Osu, Ga Traditional Councils okay ‘Marine Drive Project’
A joint traditional rite has been performed by the Osu and Ga Traditional Councils to pave the way for the commencement of a multi-million dollar project to develop parts of the Accra coastal line into a tourism enclave.
The two traditional councils poured libation, slaughtered two cows, two sheep and two goats last Thursday, to appease the gods for the developer to start clearing the area for the sod-cutting ceremony that is expected to be performed in two months’ time by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Known as the Marine Drive Project, the project covers 248 acres, stretching from the Osu Christiansborg Castle to the Centre for National culture (Arts Centre).
It is a public-private partnership (PPP) and expected to transform the beach area into a tourism enclave to create jobs for the youth, especially those within the catchment area, and increase economic growth.
Ultimately, the project aims to boost tourism.
It is being executed by three companies—Attachy Construction Ltd, which is the anchor developer, ABP Consults, which is the engineering consultant, and Consortium—the designers and planners.
When completed, the project will have facilities such as a beach resort, hotels, playgrounds and malls, among other tourism amenities.
The Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi Bonte II, assured the government of the support of the Ga Traditional Council towards the completion of the project, because when completed, it would bring development to the area.
For his part, the President of the Osu Traditional Council, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuna IV, reiterated the traditional councils’ commitment to ensure the completion of the project.
He said it would be beneficial to all and, therefore, there was the need for all to support such a laudable project.
The Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, in a solidarity message, expressed delight that the people of the two traditional areas had come together to promote the development of the area.
No loss of livelihood
The Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, assured traders, especially those around the Accra Arts Centre, that the project would not render them jobless.
This followed complaints by some people that the project would deprive them of their source of livelihood.
She hinted of plans to resettle them until the project was completed and said the project would be owed by the people of the land, stressing that “they are the true stakeholders of this project.”
Mrs Afeku recalled that the project was first envisaged by the first President of the country, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to turn the Ga land into a tourism haven.
Previous engagement to be continued
She said a number of stakeholder consultations, involving the chiefs and people of the land, had been ongoing for the last 18 months, behind the scenes.
She said the consultations, including the compensation plans that were going on during the previous administration, would be continued and assured the people that no one within the catchment area would be marginalised.
“This marks the beginning of the transformation that will bring the jobs that we desire for the youth, the jobs that we desire for our women, the jobs that we desire for the children yet unborn, the Marine Drive project will begin the transformation of Accra as the capital and the gateway to Ghana,” she said.
The developers, ABP Consults, appealed for support and prayers from the chiefs and people of the two traditional areas for the successful completion of the project.
They said their doors were open and if there was anything that the people were not clear about as the construction progressed, they should feel free to seek clarification.