On Wednesday, 9th October 2024, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Krowor Municipal Assembly, Hon. Joshua Nii Bortey, led a team of Engineers from the Works Department of the Assembly and officials from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) on a site inspection of ongoing dredging works at the Blekese Lagoon. The inspection exercise covered the stretch from the New Kantamanto Bridge through to the Harmony School Bridge, all within the Blekese West Electoral Area.
The dredging activity is a critical intervention aimed at enhancing the free flow of water within the lagoon, preventing flooding during the rainy season, and restoring the ecological integrity of the water body. Over time, the Blekese Lagoon had become heavily silted with sediments, plastics, and other pollutants, causing blockages and posing health and environmental risks to surrounding communities.
In his address during the inspection, Hon. Joshua Nii Bortey commended the contractors for the quality of work done so far. He noted that the exercise forms part of broader efforts by the Krowor Municipal Assembly to improve environmental sanitation, reduce flooding, and enhance the water quality of the lagoon. According to him, the removal of excess sediments and pollutants from the lagoon is vital not only for improved water quality but also for safeguarding the livelihoods of residents who depend on the lagoon for fishing and other activities.
He further used the opportunity to caution residents living around the Blekese Lagoon to desist from indiscriminate disposal of waste and the release of human excreta into the water body. He emphasized that the Assembly would not hesitate to apply sanctions, including fines, against any individuals or households found culpable. Hon. Bortey reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to enforcing sanitation by-laws to ensure the gains of the dredging exercise are sustained.
The MCE assured residents that similar dredging activities would be carried out in other parts of the Municipality where necessary, to mitigate the perennial flooding challenges and to promote a cleaner and healthier environment for all.
The inspection exercise concluded with a renewed call for communal responsibility in maintaining clean surroundings and protecting water bodies within the Municipality.