Residents of Chemuse and the Night Market area in the Ablekuma West Municipality are calling on the municipal authorities to urgently desilt the Chemu Lagoon and surrounding drains before disaster strikes as the rainy season begins to intensify.
When the Metro News team visited the area, several residents expressed deep frustration over what they described as years of neglect by successive leadership of the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly. They said the lagoon, which was last dredged about eight years ago, has become heavily silted and choked with sand, plastic waste, and other debris.
According to the residents, the clogged drains have led to frequent flooding, with water often spilling into homes during heavy rainfall. They fear that if nothing is done soon, the situation could escalate into a public health crisis.
“We are living in danger,” said one resident. “The drains are completely blocked, and when it rains, the water runs straight into our houses. The mosquitoes here are unbearable, and we are worried about diseases.”
Some community members lamented that the Chemu Lagoon, once seen as a potential tourist attraction, has now turned into a polluted and stagnant water body, breeding mosquitoes and posing health risks. They recalled that last year, the government supplied DRIP machines to help desilt the drains but said recent administrations have neglected the issue.
Residents are appealing to the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly to act swiftly to dredge the lagoon and repair broken drainage channels before the situation worsens.
“This is not just about convenience,” another resident said. “It is about our safety and our health. We need the Assembly to come to our aid immediately.”
Story by Theophilus Akwei
