The engagement, organised by the South Tongu District Assembly in collaboration with the Volta River Authority (VRA), brought together representatives of the VRA, traditional authorities, youth groups, fishermen, assembly members and other stakeholders to discuss the implementation framework and expected outcomes of the project.

The meeting provided a platform for participants to deliberate on the significance of the intervention, which aims to improve river navigation and water flow, remove invasive aquatic weeds, minimise the impact of seasonal flooding, and protect the livelihoods of communities along the Lower Volta River.

Speaking at the engagement held at the South Tongu District Assembly Hall in Sogakope, Ms Dzeklo introduced Max Estate Limited, the contractor responsible for carrying out the dredging and aquatic weed harvesting activities along the district's stretch of the river.

She described the initiative as a major environmental and socio-economic intervention that would restore the ecological health of the river while enhancing the resilience of communities that depend on it for their livelihoods.

The DCE emphasised the importance of community participation in the successful execution of the project and urged the contractor to prioritise the employment of qualified residents of South Tongu throughout the implementation period.

According to her, engaging local residents would create employment opportunities, strengthen community ownership of the project, and contribute to its long-term sustainability.

"Beyond the environmental objectives, the project presents an opportunity to empower our people through job creation. We encourage the contractor to ensure that qualified residents are given priority in the employment opportunities that will arise," Ms Dzeklo stated.

She assured stakeholders that the Assembly would continue to provide the necessary support and coordination to facilitate the smooth implementation of the project while safeguarding the interests of affected communities.

Representatives of the Volta River Authority and Max Estate Limited reaffirmed their commitment to executing the project in accordance with environmental safety standards and best practices.

They also assured stakeholders of continuous engagement with traditional leaders, fishermen, youth groups, assembly members and other community stakeholders to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and effective collaboration throughout the implementation process.

The Lower Volta River Dredging and Aquatic Weed Harvesting Project is expected to improve water resource management, reduce flood risks, protect the environment and boost economic activities in riparian communities within South Tongu and neighbouring districts.