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 said it spent over GHC 100,000 on the project.
The project involves desilting and widening the Ayire Lagoon, which stretches from Kwesimintsim to Airport Ridge.
The lagoon had been clogged with plastic waste.
Mr. Prakash Lalwani, the Chief Operations Officer of United Developers, said the project aims to save the community from annual floods and 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 said.
The company is collaborating with the NADMO, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Assemblyman for Airport Ridge on the project.
The Ayire Lagoon’s poor condition has caused annual floods, displaced residents and raised national security concerns.
The dredging exercise, covering three kilometres, is expected to provide relief to residents.
United Developers is also developing a gated community project in the area and plans to build a net catchment system to curb plastic waste flow into the lagoon.
Mr. Lalwani urged local business leaders to invest in the metropolis, citing 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 said.
Mr Michael Kwame Doku, Assembly Member for Airport Ridge, described the project as “lifesaving”.
Alhaji Abubakar, the NADMO Director of STMA said logistical constraints placed a huge toll on their performance and therefore praised corporate organisations and individuals who continued to augment government’s responsibilities.
