Work on Keta sea defence to continue

The Police have granted a request to provide armed officers to protect life and property at the operational areas of the Great Lakes and Dredging Company, which is currently undertaking the Keta Sea Defence project.

Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing, told the Ghana News Agency that the Inspector General of Police granted the request at a meeting between the company's management and the Ministry on Tuesday.

This was in response to threats by the company to abandon the project after it had suffered a spate of armed robberies at its operational areas as well as residential quarters of expatriate directors.

Mr Bartels, who described the meeting as successful, said the company rescinded its decision and will resume work with vigour, adding: "They are happy now".

He said the ministry is also meeting with the workers to resolve other "grey areas" such as disagreements over salaries.

The Company, which started work barely a year ago, has suffered three armed robberies since October, last year, resulting in the loss of property worth several millions of cedis.

In the latest incident, seven armed men attacked the residence of the expatriate staff, injuring five people and stealing property worth millions of cedis.