Industrial waste, siltation threatens Chemu Lagoon, worsen flooding in Tema

Industrial waste discharged into Tema's rivers has severely polluted Chemu Lagoon, killing fish and aquatic life, according to Urban Roads Engineer Benjamin Bampoe of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly. The pollution, exacerbated by siltation from nearby communities, has hindered the lagoon's ability to support aquatic life and contributed to drainage issues in the area.

The lagoon receives water from four major rivers flowing through Tema's industrial zone before emptying into the sea. These industries, involved in aluminium, cement, chemical, oil and metal production, contribute to the pollution through the discharge of untreated waste into the rivers. Bampoe emphasized that the lagoon can no longer sustain fish or water life due to the combined waste.

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly is collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure factories treat their wastewater before discharging it, stressing that industries must treat their waste at the source to prevent future pollution. Unpaved roads in adjacent communities have also released sand and mud into the river channels over the past 15 years, blocking them and linking to flooding recorded on June 29.

Councillor Mathias Thuborg Madsen from Denmark's Embassy highlighted that Denmark would continue supporting Ghana through the cooperation program until 2030. Denmark, along with the City of Aarhus, Aarhus Vand, Ghana Water Company Limited and Tema Metropolitan Assembly, is working together to address the issue. The Danish team is supporting efforts to treat industrial wastewater, improve public water supply, and develop affordable, nature-based drainage systems to reduce flooding in Tema.