Takoradi: United Developers Limited, a real estate company, is undertaking a dredging project at Airport Ridge in Takoradi to alleviate perennial floods in the area. The company stated it has spent over GHC 100,000 on the project, which involves desilting and widening the Ayire Lagoon that stretches from Kwesimintsim to Airport Ridge. The lagoon had been clogged with plastic waste.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Prakash Lalwani, the Chief Operations Officer of United Developers, said the project aims not only to save the community from annual floods but also to create employment opportunities for local youth. "I grew up here and I'm saddened by the annual discomfort residents face, so we're stepping in to help," he stated.
The company is collaborating with NADMO, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Assemblyman for Airport Ridge on this vital project. The Ayire Lagoon's poor condition has caused annual floods, displaced residents, and raised national security concerns. The dredging exercise, covering three kilometers, is expected to provide much-needed relief to residents.
United Developers is also developing a gated community project in the area and plans to construct a net catchment system to curb plastic waste flow into the lagoon. Mr. Lalwani urged local business leaders to invest in the metropolis, highlighting its potential as a tourist hub. "Dubai was built from a desert and is now a world tourists' destination; Takoradi has a lot of potential," he remarked.
Mr. Michael Kwame Doku, Assembly Member for Airport Ridge, described the project as "lifesaving." Alhaji Abubakar, the NADMO Director of STMA, mentioned that logistical constraints placed a huge toll on their performance, praising corporate organizations and individuals who continue to augment government responsibilities.