Tema, Manhean, April 23, GNA -- The Chief of Tema, Nii Adjei Kraku II, has initiated a major project to develop the coastal lines to promote tourism as his contribution towards the socio-economic growth of the country. Dubbed: "Project Ghana Shoreline", it is aimed at addressing the problems of pollution along Ghana's beaches from Aflao to Axim and to promote the development of the structural facilities under a five-year development programme.

According to Nii Adjei Kraku, the stretch of coastline from Tema Manhean to Ckorkor in Accra would be used as a pilot scheme for the phase one of the programme and later extended from Aflao to Axim. Activities envisaged under the programme include the education of inhabitants along the coastlines to create the awareness on the harmful effects of defecation and dumping of refuse which is an eye sore, beautification and the construction of sanitary facilities which would make the people become responsible to the environment.

The Mantse said he conducted feasibility studies in 2002 and later joined hands with the "City 2000 Youth Action International" an NGO and undertook a fact-finding trip along the coastline with Environmentalists from the Civil Mining Projects, Ghana Limited.

To this end, he intends to undertake a clean-up exercise along the beach of Tema next Saturday, April 29 and impressed on all residents to participate actively to ensure its success. To achieve the desired patronage, some corporate organizations in Tema on Saturday donated monies totalling 22 million cedis towards the cleaning activities in preparation towards the launching of a fund for the project on May 12.

They were Hull Blyth Stevedoring Limited, Koffson Ghana Limited, SDV Ghana Limited, Icecool Ghana Limited, Pioneer Food Cannery and Movelle Ghana Limited.