Eyes on the Ground: Work resumes on 10-year-old drainage system at Sakaman during lockdown

In April 2010, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly under the leadership of Oko Vanderpuye razed down over twenty houses at Sakaman in the Ablekuma North District.

The AMA explained that, with the onset of rains in the following months, the demolition was necessary to allow it construct a huge drainage system for the area.

The cries and protest of the citizen went unheard as the AMA demolished houses it claimed were on waterways.

The AMA subsequently awarded the construction of drainage and work quickly began.

After some remarkable progress at the initial stages, work stalled and abandoned with the explanation to the residents some of whom had to use alternative routes to access their homes.

Ten years and three presidents on from when the demolition exercise was undertaken, and the drainage system is yet to be completed.

Interesting to note that make-shift structures for the workers have now been turned into houses with some of them settling in the community.

Earlier this year, residents received the good news as work resumed on the facility.

Work has been progressing quite well as workers are ever-present on the site.

Following the coronavirus pandemic, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ordered a lockdown of some parts of Accra and Ablekuma Municipality under which Sakaman falls.

The president in his address, stressed on the fact that only providers of essential services would be permitted to work with construction workers inclusive.

A visit to the site Friday morning showed workers busily going about their duties and working tirelessly to complete the project before the rainy season.