Need to relocate Kasoa toll booth to protect Weija Dam

Weija (GAR), Sept. 22, GNA - Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Thursday called for the relocation o= f Kasoa Toll Booth because commercial activities there posed a threat to the Weija Dam. "While the booth was sited to realise maximum revenue collection for the economy, the decision overlooked its threat to the water body," he added.

Dr Ahmed made the call when addressing the opening session of a stakeholders' workshop on Weija Dam at Weija on Thursday. He expressed dissatisfaction at the wanton expansion of informal housing encroaching upon the sensitive areas of the dam, and noted that water security was important to the Ministry and pledged government's commitment towards protection of water bodies in the country. Dr Ahmed said due to government's commitment towards water body protection, Ghana had rectified all protocols on water body protection in the Sub-Region.

He appealed to the participants to come out with implementable modalities on how Weija Dam could be protected from negative activities. Mr Sherriff Otto Dodoo, Ga South Municipal Chief Executive Officer, called for protection of the dam since it provided water for about two million Ghanaians. He expressed worry about the uncontrolled urbanisation of the landscap= e in the Municipality where people were constructing buildings on steep slopes. "The once natural beauty of ridges and the Densu delta have been converted by unplanned development, which the Central and Local government cannot cope with."

Mr Ronald Abrahams, Officer-in=96Charge of Densu River at the Water Resource Commission, cited sand winning, mining activities, fishing, inappropriate disposal of waste and farming along the banks of the dam as some of the illegal activities dwindling its fortunes. He called for the relocation of the Police Post near the dam because o= f human activities in the area. Mr Abrahams called for fencing around the dam to prevent human activities along the banks of the dam.