Bénin/Dragage pilote du Lac Ahémé à Dondji-Houncloun : Le Gouvernement inaugure les ouvrages et lance les travaux d'extension du dragage de Docloboé à la bouche du Roy

Firmly committed to improving the environment of Lake Ahémé, facilitating river navigation, the migration of fish species between the ocean and continental waters, and the well-being of local populations, the Government of President Patrice TALON has decided to set up the Programme Intercommunal de réhabilitation du lac Ahémé et ses chenaux.

Through this program implemented by the Agence pour le Développement intégré de la zone Économique du Lac Ahémé et de ses Chenaux (ADELAC), the pilot dredging of Lake Ahémé at Dondji-Houncloun has been completed. at Dondji-Houncloun were completed and inaugurated this Tuesday, April 22, 2025 by the Minister for Sustainable Development, Mr. José TONATO. At his side for this memorable event were the Prefects of the Atlantic Monsozur-Jean-Claude CODJIA, the Mono, Mr Bienvenu Dêdêgnon MILOHIN, honourable deputies, executives at various levels, wise men, crowned heads and the strongly mobilized population, a sign of the joy that animates them.

Worth around 23 billion FCFA, this pilot phase enabled the dredging of 235 hectares of water out of the 208 planned, to an average depth of 6m; the construction of 02 footbridges at Mekô and Hâta; the construction of 4 landing stages at Djondji, Mêkô, Gonko and Houncloun respectively; the reforestation of 12.5 hectares of mangroves to preserve the environment; the development of 2 biological reserve zones, dredged to a depth of 10 m, marked out and sacralized for the conservation of halieutic biodiversity and to serve as a zone for the natural repopulation of water bodies.

"These inaugurated works, which bring Lake Ahémé and its channels to life, are financed by the national budget to the tune of around 23 billion FCFA. And it's thanks to the will of one man, the President of the Republic, Mr. Patrice TALON", declared the Minister for the Living Environment.

"These achievements will improve the living conditions of aquatic organisms, fisheries production and the income of the population, thereby reducing poverty", remarked Minister José TONATO, who reassured the audience that the momentum would continue with the implementation of several other projects.

Following the inauguration of the works, the Minister also launched work on the extension of the dredging of Lake Ahémé from Docloboé to the mouth of "la bouche du Roy", at a cost of around 11 billion FCFA. The people of the communes of Bopa, Comè, Grand-Popo, Houéyogbé, Kpomassè and Ouidah are delighted, and thank President Patrice TALON for his unfailing support.

Prayers and libations from crowned heads, sages and notables brought the ceremony to a close.

Source: www.gouv.bj/a