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31.05.2000 General News

Work on Keta Sea Project starts on June 1

31.05.2000 LISTEN
By Graphic (By Adwoa Van-Ess)

WORK on the Keta Sea Defence Project, estimated at $84 million is now scheduled to start on Thursday, June 1.

This follows the completion of preparatory works, including the mobilisation of human resources and the assemble of large consignments of equipment and machinery at the project site at Havedzi and the Metsrikasa quarry sites.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr, I. K. Adjei-Mensah, announced this in Accra yesterday, at the ministry’s turn of the “meet the press” series.

Mr. Adjei-Mensah said work on the project, which has been awarded to Messrs Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company Limited of the United States of America, officially commenced on September 15,1999.

He said the project, which will be completed in four and a half years, involves the construction of a sea defence structure, land reclamation of the Keta Lagoon site, a seven kilometre stretch at Kedzi for Lagoon flood control and bird habitat islands.

On the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project, Mr. Adjei-Mensah said the project has been delayed due to a shortfall in project financing.

He said the government recently signed a loan agreement of $10 million with the Kuwaiti fund and it is expected that the other funding agencies will also follow with additional funding for the project.

The minister said the project, which is estimated at $70 million, is being undertaken by Messrs Dredging International of Belgium, and will take approximately three years to complete.

He also announced that this year, the government will spend ¢19 billion to continue work on critical areas along the coast line, especially at Ada, Akplabanya, Prampram-Ningo, La, Philip Quaicoe, Elmina, Nkontompo, Ngyiresia, Discove, Komenda, Axim, New Amanful/Funkoe, Butre, Prince Akatakyie, and Senya Bereku in the Eastern, Western and Central regions.

Mr. Adjei-Mensah said during the year, government plans to spend ¢12.47 billion to continue works on most drains, while works on some critical regional and district drains will be done in the Ashanti, Central, Western and Eastern regions.

He said the Hydrology Department of the ministry is preparing drainage master plans for all the district capitals for implementation by the district assemblies.

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