The Attipoekope Lagoon Landing Site at Keta in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region would soon see the construction of a modern mini-market to enhance its operations. The site is also expected to witness the provision of a state-of-the-art place of convenience and the creation of a conducive environment for business activities. The Hanua of Attipoekope, Dr. Olympio Attipoe, told our news team in an interview at Keta that the proposed initiatives would impact positively the lives and work of the fisher folks in the area.
The Attipoekope is not only a suburb of Keta, the municipal administrative capital but also one of the several landing sites along the famous Keta Lagoon water body. The Keta Lagoon, the largest lagoon in Ghana, is located on the delta of the Volta River on the eastern coast of Ghana and covers a length of one hundred and twenty-six (126) kilometres.
History has it that this environment or the Attipoekope lagoon landing site is over two hundred (200) years old. Despite its economic importance in the local economy, the area has been left over the years without any decent place of convenience as well as a market shed for the fisherfolks, market women and traders as well as other visitors to the place.
In recent days and weeks, all communities along the Keta Lagoon Basin in the Keta Municipality and the Anloga District have witnessed bumper harvests of shrimps and crabs. The Attipoekope Landing Site is no exception as daily, fishermen return every morning from their fishing expedition on the lagoon either with loads of crabs or shrimps. The situation has resulted in brisk business activities at all the landing sites with market women from far and near trooping to these sites to buy the huge catch of these shrimps and crabs.
The Hanua of Attipoekope, Dr. Olympio Attipoe, has held a meeting with the fisherfolks of the area to discuss ways of improving their business activities to improve their lot. The fisherfolks have elected an eleven (11) member executive committee to work with the Hanua to actualize their dreams of building a mini market, constructing a modern toilet facility as well as creating a hygienic environment for them to continue doing their business.
Speaking to our news team, Dr. Attipoe said the provision of the facilities would give a facelift to the landing site and also improve the lot of the fisherfolks of the area. According to him, as a traditional leader for his people, it is his responsibility and that of the Municipal Assembly not only to hold such discussions with the citizenry but also to ensure the municipality’s development.
The Hanua was of the view that the actualization of these projects would add value to what the women and the fishermen have been doing over the years, adding that with the advent of the recent bumper harvest of crabs and shrimps in the area, the fisherfolks including their women need to have value for money for what they are doing.
Dr. Olympio assured the fisherfolks and the residents of Attipoekope that he would, together with the Assembly, continue to create the enabling environment for them to attract buyers and other businessmen and women from other areas of Ghana to come to Attipoekope in particular and Keta, in general, to add value to their old age profession of fishing.
He commended the fisherfolks for electing leaders to steer their affairs at the Lagoon Landing Site for the next four (4) years. He asked them to support and cooperate with them in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
Swearing them into office, the Hanua charged the executive to live up to expectations and not to let their people down.
The Chief Fisherman of Attipoekope and Chairman of the Landing Site Committee, Mr.William Klomanyi was excited about the outcome of the meeting and pledged his support and that of his colleagues to the Hanua towards the transformation of the Attipoekope landing site.
He described the intended vision of Hanua for the landing site in particular and the community at large as laudable and urged all and sundry to support such a move towards its realization.
The Attipoekope Landing Site Committee has Mr. William Klomanyi as President, Mr. Amewugah Salakpi as Vice President, Mr. Bernard Anthony Ahialey as Secretary, Mr. Cornelius Amedzorneku as Treasurer as well as Ms. Elizabeth Sedode as Assistant Treasurer. The others are Mr. Thomas Gadogbe, Organizer, Ms. Akpene Elo, Women Organizer with her Assistant being Ms. Dzigbordi Dzidzienyo Gbedze. The rest are Mr. Peter Rasfofo Kpodo as Security with Mr. Kwaku Bakah as his Assistant. Mr. Godsway Dodzi Dogbevi Helego is the Organizer of Strangers.
