Encroachment on Sakumo Ramsar site: TDC MD proffers engineering solutions

The Managing Director of TDC Ghana Ltd, Courage Makafui Nunekpeku, has disclosed plans to convert the Sakumo Ramsar site into a recreational area.

He said the intention is not to harm the site's natural and ecological importance as a wetland, but to promote recreation and tourism, while preserving its biodiversity and ecosystem and using it as a means to curb the massive encroachment on the site.

At a press conference in Tema last Thursday, Mr Nunekpeku bemoaned the level of encroachment on the Ramsar site.

The Sakumo Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance. It covers an area of 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) and is situated along the coastal road between Accra and Tema in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

The Ramsar site is made up of the core, buffer and transitional area. Over a period, the buffer and transitional zone have been fully encroached on, while more than half of the 1,200 acres of the core area have been encroached upon.

The lagoon itself is silted and in dire need of dredging.

Responding to a question on what can be done to protect the wetland and save it from further encroachment, Mr Nunekpeku said the TDC was putting together some drawings and would engage sister agencies such as the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and Tema West Municipal Assembly, for a lasting solution to challenges facing the Tema enclave, encroachment of the wetland and replacement of the overage central sewer lines.

"On the Ramsar site, we are looking at building a world-class canal, a canal that will start from Santor Hills right down across the motorway and continue into the sea.

This canal will be deep and wide with a good green belt by the side that can take a lot of water.”

“In fact, the canal will be wide enough to contain the volume of water that will be coming probably from the hills where boats or small yachts can even ride on and become like a tourist place.

This is what we normally see when we travel abroad and this is what we are trying to propose as a solution to the flooding.” 

"We are putting the drawings together and putting a budget to it to see how we are going to finance it, then we can now present this to the higher authority.

This can be the solution that will solve all these issues of flooding," he said.

Sewer bursts

On overage sewage lines, he said the TDC intended to work with the TMA to see how best they can replace some of the old six inches asbestos pipes, some of which have been buried in the soil for over 50 years, with pressure pipes that could carry better volumes, such as 25-inch or 30-inch pressure pipes.

While acknowledging that it was going to be an uphill task due to the possibility of demolishing people's homes, especially unauthorised extensions, he said the vision was to solve a bigger problem, adding that "this is something that needs to be done for the future to prevent sewer bursts. 

"If you live in Tema, you know it's one of our biggest headaches, especially in the rainy season." 

Land audit

Mr Nunekpeku said his administration had uncovered the sale of several parcels of land in Tema Community 24 to individuals associated with the name of his predecessor.

He said management had embarked on a land audit to make sure that people accounted for their stewardship.

“Nothing will stop the investigations we are going to do.

The only thing that can stop it will probably be the sector minister or the President.

Apart from that, nothing is going to stop it.

We will continue to do the land audit to make sure that people account for their stewardship,” he said.

Writer's email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh