A growing dispute over the dredging of the Elmina Fishing Harbour has prompted residents and traditional leaders to urgently appeal to the government, urging authorities to allow a local contractor to continue work it has already begun.

The conflict arose after 'Yehowa Adom' Company Limited, a local firm, was allegedly ordered to halt its dredging operations.

The stoppage is linked to speculation that the Fisheries Ministry has awarded an official contract to a different, unknown company to execute the same project.

For over a month, Yehowa Adom has been working on the critical dredging project using its own resources, receiving widespread praise from the local fishing community for the quality of its work.

The dredging is considered a matter of urgency for Elmina.

The harbour has become increasingly hazardous due to severe silt buildup, which has narrowed the entrance, exposed rocks, and led to nearly six vessel accidents.

These incidents have caused significant damage to boats and resulted in fatal injuries, while also stifling the local economy by making it difficult for larger vessels to access the port.

The community's support for the local contractor is firm. Residents and chiefs argue that allowing Yehowa Adom to continue would not only resolve the immediate danger but also boost local economic activity and provide much-needed jobs for the youth.

Expressing their frustration, local youths voiced concerns that a new, external contractor would likely bring its own workforce, leaving them with little to no employment opportunities—a situation they compare to the previous construction of the harbour by Chinese contractors.

Their position is strongly backed by the Edina Traditional Council and the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Chief Executive, who have thrown their "unflinching support" behind Yehowa Adom.

Nana Kojo Yaw, the Chief Fisherman for Edina Mpobin, attested to the visible improvements since the company began work.

"He then beseeched the Edina Traditional Council and other relevant stakeholders to rally behind the company," he told the media, highlighting how vessels previously suffered when trying to enter the harbour.

Echoing the community's plea, the project's Supervisory Engineer, Bennett King, called on the government and the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority to provide Yehowa Adom with the necessary official documentation, equipment, and advisory support to complete the project successfully.