Minister inspects development projects, Saturday, March 27, 2010 (pg 18)

Work on the Adjen Kotoku Redevelopment in the Ga-West Municipality meant to decongest the central business district (CBA) as well as relocate traders from Old Fadama will be completed in June 2010.
The project which forms part of the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project (KLERP) and being executed by International Dredging is estimated to cost approximately GHC 172.2 million.
The Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, Mr Alban S.K Bagbin , made this known when he visited the project sites of Adjen Kotoku and the Korle Lagoon to familiarise himself with work on the project, access the state of work as well as seek the co-operation of the inhabitants for its timely completion.
When completed, the Adjen Kotoku Township will be transformed into a commercial centre with facilities including bulk timber market, Roads, bulk breaking markets, sewerage treatment plant, electrical network, potable water supply, educational facilities, health services and transport terminals.
Work on the 4.2 km is almost complete with the sewer-lines laid and the bore holes for the supply of potable water developed.
Mr Bagbin who was addressing concerns of the residents assured them that “frantic efforts were being made to have compensations duly paid.
He said the ministry was working in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council, Lands Commission and the Land Valuation Board in determining appropriate compensations.
He said the “relocation of the markets are done in a manner not just to spread development and socio-economic activities but also to improve the living standards of all the people affected by the project”.
He stated that desire of the government to provide funds for the execution of the project, indicated its concern for the development of rural communities to enhance the well being of the people.
Mr Bagbin said the project would open the community to opportunities and benefits such as better educational and health infrastructure in addition to recreational facilities adding that “with the government’s desire to resuscitate the national railway system, and the fact that the railway system goes through Adjen Kotoku, the development of the market and it’s associated amenities would open up your community to become an important commercial centre in Ghana.”
He appealed to the residents to co-operate with the contractor to ensure the speedy recovery of the project saying “you need to continue along this line for the project to be completed on time so that you reap maximum benefits from the project”.
Responding to a number of concerns raised by the residence concerning the acquired lands, their stake in the management of the markets and a warning that residents of Sodom and Gomorra would not be entertained in the area, he advised them to exercise restraint as all their concerns would be factored into plans for the area.
Present at the meeting were the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga-West, Nii Armah Tackie and the Member of Parliament for the Trobu-Amasaman Constituency, Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah.
A resident of the area, Mr Paul Quaye told the Daily Graphic that the project would bring a lot of relief to young people in the area who are jobless.
At the Korle Lagoon restoration site, Mr Bagbin expressed disappointment with the state of the project adding that there was the need to take a second look at waste management in Accra and for that matter the entire country.
“It is time to get our people to understand the importance of what we have to do with regard to waste. The country is still pumping hard- earned money into projects that need not be in this state, but because of the irresponsibility of some of our people”, Mr Bagbin observed.
The Korle Lagoon restoration started in the year 2000 but has been delayed largely by the volumes of filth that flood the lagoon.
Part of the lagoon which was to serve as a buffer zone had been filled with plastic materials, while others were spotted defecating in the open.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Project of Dredging International, Ghana, Mr Van De Roeck said more than 26,000 metric cubes of garbage had been removed from the lagoon the past ten months.
He said the garbage was hampering efforts to restore the lagoon to its former state as the buffer zone meant to contain run-off water during rainy season is now occupied by garbage.
“We had to replace a number of machine parts because of the difficulties with the garbage.” He stated.

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