Turkish gov’t supports Odaw fence project

The Turkish government has presented a cheque for 100,000 dollars to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for the construction of a 5.64-kilometre fence along the Odaw River.

The construction of a fence from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Old Fadama, in Accra, forms part of measures by AMA to protect the banks of Odawna and prevent indiscriminate disposal of refuse into the river.

The project, which is estimated to cost Ghc 4 million, is expected to be completed next year.

Receiving the cheque in Accra, the Chief Executive of AMA, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, commended the Turkish government for the gesture, and called on development partners and corporate bodies to support the project.

He said the assembly envisaged “a well-protected and clean environment along the banks of the Odawna, which will ensure free flow of water whenever it rains.”

Mr Vanderpuije explained that, “the construction is also aimed at preventing the recurrence of the June 3 disaster that killed about 160 people and destroyed property while misplacing hundreds of people.”

He said that a sod cutting ceremony would be performed at Old Fadama tomorrow to kickstart the project, stressing that “along the Agbogbloshie area, we will construct a 3.5-kilometer wall”.

The Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, Nesrin Bayazit, with oversight responsibilities in Serra Leone and Liberia, gave the assurance that his country would sustain its support for Ghana’s development agenda.

She stressed that the presentation of the cheque to AMA was a demonstration of the Turkish government’s commitment to supporting infrastructure, adding that “we hope that this will go a long way to make the fence project successful.”