United Developers Limited, a real estate firm, has launched a major dredging project at Airport Ridge, Takoradi to tackle recurring floods that have displaced residents and raised national security concerns.
The project, which has cost over GHC 100,000, involves desilting and widening the Ayire Lagoon, a three-kilometre waterway stretching from Kwesimintsim to Airport Ridge. The lagoon had become clogged with plastic waste, exacerbating flood risks.
Prakash Lalwani, Chief Operations Officer of United Developers, said the initiative was motivated by a personal connection to the area and a desire to protect residents from annual flood hardships. The project also aims to create employment opportunities for local youth.
The company is working in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Assemblyman for Airport Ridge. Plans are also underway to construct a net catchment system to prevent plastic waste from entering the lagoon.
Mr Lalwani highlighted Takoradi’s potential as a tourist destination and called on local business leaders to invest in the metropolis. “Dubai was built from a desert and is now a world tourist destination; Takoradi has a lot of potential,” he said.
Michael Kwame Doku, Assembly Member for Airport Ridge, described the project as “lifesaving,” while Alhaji Abubakar, NADMO Director for the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Area, praised corporate contributions that augment government efforts amid logistical constraints.
The dredging project is expected to provide lasting flood relief to residents and complement United Developers’ ongoing gated community development in the area, contributing to both infrastructure improvement and local economic empowerment.
