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Government signs for dredging machines
and weed harvesters
Accra, April 5, Ghanadot/GNA - Government on Thursday signed
a 13.6 million dollar grant with a manufacturer and supplier
of dredging equipment, Messrs IHC HOLLAND BV of Holland, for
the supply of dredging equipment and aquatic weed
harvesters.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Water Resources Works
and Housing, who signed on behalf of government, said the
issue of water preservation had become critical, since the
resource was finite yet strategic.
He said human activities; including abuses have led to the
apparent shortage of water for drinking and other purposes
within the communities.
He said over the years, increased erosion resulting from
increased agricultural practices and other inimical land use
practices within the various river basins have resulted in
most of the water bodies suffering from reduced reservoir
and channel capacities due to accumulation of silt.
"The situation has further been aggravated by extensive
aquatic weed infestation in most of our water bodies," Mr
Owusu-Agyemang said adding that if the appropriate measures
such as dredging were done early enough, there would be
drastic consequences for the country.
He therefore expressed appreciation to Messrs IHC Holland
for responding to Ghana's call for help and urged them to
speed up the manufacturing of the equipment for dredging to
start as early as possible.
The Minister also thanked the Dutch Government for bearing
35 per cent of the cost of the manufacture of the three
dredgers and ten weed harvesters.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang expressed optimism that that the grant
would be paid early since sand from the dredged rivers and
other water bodies would be used by the building industry,
especially those putting up the government affordable
houses.
He urged the agencies involved such as Water Resources
Commission, Volta River Authority, Hydrological Services
Department, Water Research Institute of the Council for
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Irrigation
Development Authority and the Environmental Protection
Agency to continue to collaborate for the fast execution of
the project when the equipments arrives.
Mr Jean Maari, Project Engineer, IHC HOLLAND BV, who signed
on behalf of his company, thanked government for the
cooperation so far, adding that he was glad that negotiation
that started some five years ago was ending with the signing
of the contract.
He promised to deliver the equipment as early as possible.
GNA
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