Ministry takes measures to protect beaches

Elmina (C/R), Sept. 9, GNA - The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing is liasing with the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment to post Community Protection Unit (CPU) guards along the beaches to check sand winning.

Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing made this known to newsmen at Elmina on Thursday, after a day's working visit to three coastal communities. They were Ekumfi-Srafa, Anomabu and Elmina. The visit was to enable him to see the extent of sea erosion in those areas.

He expressed concern about the extent of sea erosion along the country's coast and bemoaned the fact that it was expensive to provide sea defence systems to address the problem. Alhaji Boniface said it would cost about 40 million Euros to provide a 14 km sea defence wall at Ada, which is one of the worst affected areas.

He said his Ministry was undertaking a comprehensive study of the situation towards addressing it effectively. He appealed to the media to help intensify public awareness about the dangers and negative effect of sea erosion on the economy. Alhaji Saddique Boniface also inspected progress of work, on the dredging of the Benya Lagoon at Elmina. The project, which began last year, is being undertaken at a cost of 12.2 million Euros by the Ghana government with assistance from the Belgium government.

The works involve the dredging of the lagoon and the repairing of the breakwater to increase the intake of canoes on the lagoon. About 60 percent of works on the project has been done. 09 Sep. 07