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The Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has denied allegations of an illegal mining activity by a contractor on the Essei lagoon in Sekondi.

In the past few days, a contractor dredging the lagoon to enable holiday makers to have fun during the Easter festivities had been misconstrued by residents as prospecting for gold in the lagoon, resulting in community upheavals.

Mr K.K Sam, Metropolitan Chief Executive, who debunked the allegation at a press briefing, said, “the assembly over the past six years has been dredging the lagoon.

He said towards the end of last year, the assembly decided to engage the services of the contractor to dredge the lagoon before Easter, and that, the machine used by the contractors were the same type used by galamsey operators for illegal mining, saying that, the original purpose of the equipment was for dredging of reservoirs and dams.

“I wish to assure Nananom and the good people of the metropolis that the mandate of the contractor at the Essei lagoon is not for galamsey activities… he is dredging the lagoon, if anybody has evidence to the contrary, bring it for further action”.

On the decongestion exercise in the Metropolis, the MCE said it had been largely successful, particularly in clearing roads, pavement and walkways within the central business district.
So far, the assembly has spent GHC72, 567.10 on the decongestion exercise, he added.

He said work was steadily progressing on the Sofokrom haulage terminal, and that, so far the drains had been constructed with the road surface graded and the parking area prepared.
The assembly has also issued a spot fine of GHC200 each to 14 residents for open defecation.

He said every household would be provided with a dust bin to improve sanitation.
The MCE said the assembly would not rest on its oars to make the Metropolis clean and would enforce the bye-laws on environmental sanitation.

He called on owners of abandoned and dilapidated structures to either demolish or rehabilitate them in line with the assembly’s standards or face destruction by the assembly.

Mr Sam said sustaining socio-economic development was a collective effort and therefore pleaded with all stakeholders to support the assembly in achieving its mandate.