Government has commended Dredge Masters, a local firm, for its unwavering support in the effort to clean choked drains and fight flooding in Accra.
Works and Housing Minister, Samuel Atta Akyea, said Dredge Masters consistently dredged the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon for many years although the company had not been paid for previous dredging contracts.
He thanked founder of the company, Joseph Siaw Agyapong, for his patriotism and dedication to the fight against filth in Accra.
“If you pay regard to any serious work in this world, it is always the power of one man. It is not the crowd. You will see one man with a vision, trying to affect the entire world and we have examples of that,” he said to honour Mr Siaw Agyapong.
The Minister made the remarks Tuesday in Accra when he delivered a keynote address at the unveiling of new generation amphibious dredgers acquired by Dredge Masters.
The equipment are said to improve the efficiency of both shallow water dredging by 50%.
The two Watermaster Class V machines come along with latest generation cutting edge technology to shallow water dredging, according to Managing Director of Dredge Masters, Captain Khan.
Mr Khan explained that the new machines will help to ease the flow of water and reduce flooding.
Dredge Masters was formed in 2015 in the wake of the June 3, 2015 fire and flood disaster that claimed nearly 200 lives.
Mayor of Accra, Nii Adjei Sowah, at the equipment commissioning event said the two dredgers were not only part of the effort to make Accra clean but also resilient.
According to him, since the resumption of works by Dredge Masters two months ago there has been heavy rains in Accra.
However, he said there has not been flooding in Accra because of the dredging works at Korle lagoon.
He urged attitudinal change among the general public, saying making Accra the cleanest city in line with Mr Akufo-Addo’s vision required the efforts of everyone especially imams, and pastors.
Present at the ceremony was the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Osmanu Sharubutu.
