Delays in funding, cause of Accra flooding

The Ministries of Finance, Local Government, and Works and Housing, have been called upon to cooperate to enable the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) commence the storm drainage projects in the metropolis.

This would help curb the flooding and sanitation problems in the capital city.

Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology made the call when they joined the AMA Environmental and Sanitation Committee, led by Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Chief Executive, to tour some flood-prone areas in Accra.

The parliamentarians who were led by Mr Edem Asimah, Chairman, and Mr Francis Addai-Nkrumah, Ranking Member, expressed worry about the delay in the implementation of work, since Parliament approved loans for the project in October 2012.

They said their move to interact with the members of the AMA was occasioned by the recent serious flooding that occurred in the metropolis on January 31, this year, after 45 minutes torrential rains.

They commended the AMA for the good work it has been doing in dredging drains to mitigate the effect of flooding, and improve sanitation in the metropolis, which has helped in reducing health problems.

They asked the assembly members to let education of the people be paramount in their activities, to effect attitudinal change on the environment.

The parliamentarians said due to the experiences of the climate change, the citizenry should be educated on the storage of rain water; not concreting their compounds and spaces; planting grass and refraining from building on water-ways.

Briefing the parliamentarians, Mr Vanderpuije said the AMA has completed all the technical works, but it was left with the release of funds to start the project.

He disclosed that people living at Sodom and Gomorrah along the Korle Lagoon would be moved hundred metres away to Old Fadama, to allow for the fencing and dredging of the stream, while their commercial activities would be re-located at Adjen-Kotoku.

The AMA Mayor said all these measures were taken into consideration, because Ghana was signatory to the UN Convention on Human Habitat, and that the impression that the people are being moved away without human face was erroneous.

Mr Vanderpuije said all was set for the storm drainage and sewer project to take off in Accra to alleviate the sufferings of the residents, as soon as the Ministry of Finance starts releasing the funds.

Some of the areas they toured were Korle Lagoon Restoration Site, Sodom and Gomorrah; Obetsebi Lamptey Circle, Accra Academy and Sarkaman, where they inspected some on-going dredging works funded by the government.