Tema Canoe Basin needs dredging - Chief Fisherman

Chief Fisherman of the Tema Canoe Beach Nii Odametey has called for the dredging of the canoe basin that serves as landing base for over 500 canoes.

He told the GNA in an interview that it is regrettable the canoe basin and the entire beach has not seen any major rehabilitation since its construction over 50 years ago.

Nii Odametey said lack of rehabilitation at the Canoe Beach has led to the break down of the wooden wharf where the fishermen mend their nets.

He thanked President John Atta Mills for undertaking to repair the wharf when he visited the beach recently.

He said engineers from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, who the President directed to construct the wharf, visited the place last week to assess the situation.

The Tema Canoe Owners Association, he said, is planning on initiatives such as charging some fees for landing at the beach to be used to maintain it.

On sanitation at the Tema Canoe Beach, the Chief Fisherman noted that it is gratifying that with the introduction of ZOIL, a subsidiary of Zoom Lion, the sanitation situation at the beach is beginning to improve.