Dredging and Developing of Volta Lake: Investors Called to Participate
A newly enstooled chief of Kpong, Nene Kpabitey Nyarko II has called on investor and business entities (individual or organization) within and outside the country to come to the aid of the Kpong community to work together towards the dredging of aquatic weeds and development of the Volta Lake site for tourist activities.
This exercise when done, will make fishing activities on the river very easy.
Nene Kpabitey Nyarko II who met with elders, in other words “headsmen” and some concerned community members at the fore court of the Kpong Fish Harbour on Wednesday [13th December, 2017] morning, discussed with a multi-purpose company, Drexels Ventures the way forward on clearing the aquatic weeds.
Drexels Ventures, a reputable company, was established in 1992 with its headquarters in Malaysia. The company is involved in the manufacturing, assembling, marketing of oil & gas, construction (civil engineering services) and water related technologies. It has its subsidiary company in Ghana based in Vilivo near Asutsuare in Shai Osudoku district of the Greater Accra Region.
The ex-fire service man and former lecturer of the Maritime University (Nene Nyarko II) spelt out his vision on how to attract investors and business personnel to assist them clear the aquatic weeds, create tourist scenes with the lake and provide employment avenues for the unemployed teeming youth.
Mr. Abdul Nayar Issahaku, the Managing Director of the Drexels Ventures was also charged to submit a cost estimate of the project for the chief and his headsmen to seek for the support of philanthropists and organizations.
The Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Volta River Authority (VRA), the Municipal Assembly and other investors, both local and international were targeted for support.
The Volta Lake when dredged, will not serve only the purposes of fishing activities, but also for tourism and recreation.
Additionally, it will also serve as a means of marine transportation in the country since canoes and boats can serve as a means of transportation from one point to another on the lake.
Nene Nyarko Kpabitey who appreciated the support he has enjoyed from the community since his enstoolment, appealed to his subjects to extend similar support towards the project.
“Though the area is a cosmopolitan community, the residents are fully supporting such an innovative idea which I know they will corporate with to the end,” he said.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Drexels Ventures, Mr. Abdul Nayar Issahaku after assessing the project said his company was capable and ready to handle the task at hand.
Mr. Issahaku who further promised to employ the youth in the area to execute the work, explained that the lucky employees will be given aquatic weed and water technology training in the course of working on the project. This he maintained is to keep and maintain the project after its completion and handing over to the community.
“The work is going to be combination of manpower and machinery which will need some human labour. Therefore, we will employ and train some people from the area to help them work more effectively,” he said.
He then pleaded with the community members to offer them total support in all forms while they work on the lake.
The dredging exercise which will cover 2km; west and east of the lake directly from the Kpong Fish Harbour, is expected to be completed in two months time, all things being equal.
Source: Joyce Bedeley/ritefmonline.org
