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TRAFFIC NEWS: Closure of East Legon Extention Route

Tue, 16 Dec 2003 Source: --

The Water Resources Commission (WRC) wishes to inform the general public especially motorists in East Legon Extension who use the Lake Tesa dam (East Legon Extension Reservoir) rout that the route would be blocked permanently to traffic from January 31 2004, to prevent the dam from collapsing.

This is because the use of the route by motorists has weakened the structure of the dam and the event of imminent structural failure would result in flooding with dire consequences to the entire area and the motorway.


An alternative route has accordingly been provided for such motorists.


Meanwhile, it has come to the notice of the WRC that some persons are encroaching on portions of buffer zone, washing of cars directly into it and discharging of waste into lake.


The Commission would therefore wish to advise such persons to stop such adverse practice which if not curtailed immediately could have irreversible consequences for the lake.


Furthermore, the WRC is taking the necessary steps to protect the lake and ensure that only planned activities are undertaken there.

Lake Tesa was created to provide water for the construction of the motorway in the first republic. After the construction, it remained a beautiful resort, which was often used by the residents for recreation.


In 1999, the WRC, received complaints from some residents of East Legon about the unauthorized abstraction of water from the lake by a construction company and other individuals. The WRC after some meetings with the company reached an amicable agreement , which permitted the company to abstract some water from the lake for the construction of the Airport runway; the interim permit expired in April 2000.


Therefore , the WRC set up the Lake Tesa Development Committee made up of related institutions such as the WRC, Hydrological Service Department, Tema Municipal Assembly, Ghana Tourist Board, Lands Commission, Forestry Commission, Water Research Institute , Environmental Protection Agency, and East Legon Extension Land Owners.


On the inauguration of the Committee in October 2000, it was observed that the lands around the lake were being encroached upon, while some residents were allegedly discharging their liquid waste directly into the lake.


The Committee therefore held preparatory meetings with stakeholders and the community especially the frontline houses to establish whether or not they discharge their waste into the lake.

The Committee also agreed to undertake measures to protect the lake legally and physically, do scientific investigations on the lake environment, come up with a development action plan and explore sources of funding for the implementation of the action plan.


The EPA accordingly undertook investigations into the lake environment and tests for the quality of the water in the lake. The town and Country Planning office pf TMA is also working on the clarification of action to be taken on the encroached lands around the lake.


It has accordingly made available a copy of the site plan covering the Lake Tesa water body, the buffer zone around it, as well as provisions made for other land use near it.

Source: --