Erosion plan in place to halt threats from sea

Accra, Jan 24, GNA - The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing through its Hydrological Services Department (HSD) has established a coastal erosion management plan to protect communities fronting the coast against threats from sea erosion.

Ekumfi Immuna, Ekumfi Akra and Ekumfi Sraafa Mpoano in the Mfantsiman East Constituency are also benefiting from the programme. Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, the sector minister who said these in Parliament on Tuesday, explained that the management plan consists of planning, investigations, survey, design and supervision of construction of erosion control structures of the affected areas.

The Minister was responding to a question from Mr George Kuntu-Blankson, NDC-Mfantsiman East, as to what plans were in place to protect some communities in the constituency from sea erosion. Mr Owusu-Agyemang said, " The HSD has been directed to investigate and assess the coastal erosion problem in the six communities of Ekumfi Immuna, Ekumfi Emmisano, Ekumpoano, Ekumfi Akra, Ekumfi Sraafa Mpoano and Ekumfi Edinafo."

"We are waiting for the report to determine the appropriate remedial measures to protect the shoreline fronting the communities."

In response to another question, the minister said most communities in the Gomoa West Constituency are supplied with water from Kwanyaku and the Winneba Water Treatment plants.

"Gomoa Apam, Dago, Mumford and other communities between Otuam and Ekumpuano in the Mfantsiman District have since mid 2004 been put on the Winneba Water Supply to improve water supply to those areas."

Mr Owusu-Agyemang was responding to a question from Mr Joe Hackman, NPP-Gomao West, as to when the water problems facing most parts of his constituency would be resolved.

The Minister said as a result of the water logged nature of the route along the Gomoa Ankamu-Apam pipeline, there was frequent failure of the pipeline as the "cast iron detachable joints frequently get rusted, resulting in profuse leakage which the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has been repairing now and then."

"GWCL is in the process of replacing the entire pipeline from Gomoa Ankamu through Apam, Mumford to Dago and beyond from a 2.5 million-euron grant by the Netherlands government."

Mr Daoud Anum Yemoh, NDC Domeabra-Obom, also sought to find out from the Minister when the water project in the Domeabra-Denkyiraa area in his constituency would be completed.

The Minister said the water project, which started in August last year, has been completed.