Sakumono Lagoon Overflows Its Banks .... Submerges 200 Houses

Tema (GAR), - More than 200 houses close to the Sakumono lagoon are partially submerged in water due to continuous rains in Tema, compelling many families to vacate their homes. The body of a male adult believed to be a construction worker who drowned at Lashibi has been washed onto the banks of the waterway at Community five, near the Greenwich Primary school, bringing the death toll in Tema and Ashaiman to three. At the Community five Railway quarters, about 800 people mostly port workers and their families have been forced out of their homes by the floods. Other affected areas are parts of Community Five extension, Community three, Community 11,12 and especially near the SOS Children's village which is close to the banks of the Sakumono Lagoon. At Community Five extension, 10 houses had water close to their window level while the "Deeper Life Bible Church" was almost submerged with just its roof above water. The floods have affected other houses at the Jogis Estates at Community three with some residents complaining that snakes have invaded their homes. The Lashibi-Ashaiman road is flooded near the Sakumono Ramsyser site, an area demarcated as wet lands, forcing drivers to stop plying the road. Mr. Paul Asare Ansah, assistant Public Affairs Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), told journalists that the Authority is evacuating those affected at the Railway quarters to guest houses and some uninhabited structures which the GPHA has made habitable. By 3 p.m. yesterday, about 50 per cent of those affected had been evacuated, he said, adding that the GPHA is seeking the assistance of the Fire Service in Tema to help pump water from the lagoon into the sea. The GPHA started the pumping on Monday night and it is expected that about 40,000 gallons of water will be pumped a minute as an interim measure while the Authority considers a permanent solution. Mr. Emmanuel Ofoe, Tema municipal co-ordinating director of the Municipal Assembly, said the Sakumo lagoon was overflowing its banks because it is taking water from catchment areas like Ashale Botwe, Ashaiman, parts of the Tema township, Madina, Adenta, Lashibi and even the Akwapim ridge. He said the TMA was also concerned about the new sewage treatment plant for Tema where one of the three pumping stations is standing in water while the treatment plant itself has one of its pumps taking in water which is being discharged slowly. A number of people have suggested the dredging of the Sakumo lagoon and the construction of more storm drains to serve as water outlets from the lagoon into the sea.