By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Tema, July 27, GNA — The Tema Traditional Council has called for urgent measures to restore the ecological health of the Sakumo Lagoon, warning that years of siltation, uncontrolled weed growth and human activities are threatening one of Ghana’s internationally recognised wetlands and worsening flooding.
The Council said restoring the lagoon’s natural outlet to the sea, coupled with regular desilting, would improve water flow, reduce aquatic weed infestation, and enhance its ability to absorb floodwater during heavy rains.
The appeal comes amid growing concerns over the state of the Sakumo Ramsar Site following recent flooding across Greater Accra and Tema, as well as ongoing efforts by authorities to remove unauthorised structures within protected wetlands and along waterways, to restore natural drainage channels.
Nii Amarh Sompunu II, the Tema Stool Secretary and Shipi, during a courtesy call by Mr Ludwig Teye Totimeh, the Tema West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said the lagoon’s current condition was largely because of decades of silt accumulation.
Nii Sompunu recalled that after the devastating floods of 1978 destroyed the bridge linking Tema and Nungua, reconstruction works left only a narrow opening between the lagoon and the sea.
He said before then, tidal movement naturally flushed accumulated silt from the lagoon into the sea.
“When you travelled towards Nungua years ago, you would see nature taking care of the lagoon. The opening into the sea was much wider, allowing free movement of water that naturally carried the silt away,” he said.
He explained that the restricted outlet now prevented the lagoon from naturally desilting, resulting in sediment accumulation and the rapid spread of aquatic weeds.
“When we speak, some people think we do not understand hydraulics, but we speak from experience. Nature has its own way of maintaining the lagoon. If the opening into the sea is restored, just as it is at Kpeshie (La) and Kpone, most of the weeds will disappear naturally,” he said.
Nii Sompunu warned that failure to restore the natural interaction between lagoons and the sea could eventually lead to the disappearance of several of them, as well as rivers across the country.
He appealed to the Tema West Municipal Assembly, the Environmental Protection Authority, the Hydrological Services Department and other stakeholders, to collaborate in restoring the lagoon before its ecological condition deteriorated further.
Responding, Mr Ludwig Teye Totimeh acknowledged that the recent heavy rains had exposed longstanding weaknesses in the drainage system, adding that investigations by the assembly indicated that the Sakumo Lagoon had not been desilted for approximately 15 years, causing it to fill up quickly whenever there was heavy rainfall.
“The recent rain taught us many lessons. We recognise that some of the lagoon outlets need to be opened to improve water flow, and we are exploring the available options to address the situation,” he said.
Mr Totimeh disclosed that the assembly had received several proposals for desilting the lagoon and was evaluating them to determine the most sustainable intervention.
He said any restoration programme would complement ongoing efforts to protect the Sakumo Ramsar Site, including measures to address encroachment and remove unauthorised structures obstructing waterways and ecologically sensitive areas.
The MCE reiterated the assembly’s commitment to working with traditional authorities, environmental agencies and development partners to restore the lagoon and reduce the risk of flooding within the area and beyond.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Email: [email protected]