Wetlands of Sakumo Face Serious Threat

0
Wetlands
Wetlands

The Sakumo Ramsar site in Tema has dwindled from a size of 1,300 hectares to 400 hectares largely due to the encroachment of estate developers.

Wetlands
Wetlands

?The over 1,300 hectares wetland which serves as a home for migrating birds and a natural flood control mechanism, have been seriously encroached upon by developers reducing the site to about 400 hectares?, Mr Felix Mishiame, Tema Metropolitan Agricultural Director has disclosed,
Mr Mishiame was in the company of Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, who led the team of officials to visit the eastern end of the Ramsar at Tema Communities 10, five and three to assess the extent of encroachment on the Sakumo ramsar site.
The team observed that apart from huge mansions constructed on parts of the original site, the Community five end popularly known as the ‘church village’ had many churches and wooden structures haphazardly erected there leading to serious flooding during the rainy season.
Mr Odamtten said the visit was for him and his team to assess the extent of encroachment in the area to enable his outfit to put in place the needed measures to halt such developments.
He stated that as key development control agency, it was the duty of the TMA to serve as a
solid interface for developments in the Metropolis.
The MCE indicated that while some of the encroachment required immediate intervention, others would be deliberated upon with the Tema Development Corporation (TDC).
He further stated that the slums being developed at Communities five and three would be addressed through the slum development programme, which aimed at constructing single, and chamber and hall flats, for such slum dwellers.
He added that such a programme would help improve sanitation and waste management situations in such places.
At community three, the MCE issued directives to the Tema Metropolitan Engineer to demolish an ongoing construction on the Ramsar site behind the community three flats.
Workers who were said to have been cautioned by the Tema Metropolitan taskforce to stop work on Monday were seen busily erecting a fence wall on the site with a number of columns already
mounted.
According to the TMA officials, the developers were yet to apply for a permit necessitating the
seizing of their tools on Monday.

 

GNA

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here