Looming danger at Dome crossing

Residents at Dome crossing, a flood prone area, have been greatly affected with the unset of rains due to their poor drainage system.

For years, drivers, residents and business operators have been calling on authorities to address the situation by reconstructing and desilting the drains to allow the free flow of rainwater. The continuous flooding at Dome crossing has eroded both sides of the gutter with portions of the land being washed away.

“I have been working here as a driver for 21 years. In fact, this is a huge problem affecting drivers. When it rains, the whole place gets flooded, drivers cannot work. The MP and MCE came to the site but still haven’t done anything about the situation. Now drivers are appealing to the President to make an effort by constructing a water defence to prevent flooding.”

The Dome crossing stretch is a busy road due to its proximity to the Dome market and railway line. When it rains, movement comes to a standstill causing a major traffic.

Residents and business operators who spoke to GhanaWeb, when the news team visited the area, expressed their disappointment in successive governments for their failure to construct a proper drainage system despite numerous promises.

According to residents, there have been several instances where constructors were spotted at the site working, however, they abandon the project and the situation only escalates.

This time round, they are calling for a final expansion and construction of a water defence on both sides of the gutter to curb the issue of flooding in the community.

Dome Taxi Rank

The busy taxi rank is seated right at the edge of the gutter, posing a great danger to drivers and pedestrians. Despite efforts by some drivers to safeguard the land from erosion, the continuous floods have swept off portions of the land.

Leaders of the taxi rank were reluctant in speaking to GhanaWeb. They claimed that numerous reports by the media have not yielded any response from authorities.

Some drivers who spoke off camera added that, they have received countless promises from the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Adwoa Safo. “It is really dangerous when it rains. You see, the gutter is a major gutter when it rains everything gathers at this point (Dome Crossing). The authorities have alerted us that works will begin by the end of this year so we should relocate the Dome Crossing taxi rank because works will occur this part of the gutter.”

The fuel station which is directly opposite the taxi rank is also affected when there is a heavy downpour. When the water from the drain overflows, it covers the entire road spreading into shops and also causing vehicular traffic.

Some food vendors recalled instance where their containers were swept away by the flood, adding that their safety is endangered. A rice seller who have been selling at the taxi rank called for the intervention of authorities.

“We cannot sell our food, when it rains, we carry our foods back home. Authorities have visited us on several occasions, they only talk but have failed to construct a proper drainage system,” she said.

“I have lost several customers; we are always driven away by the floods. The President should come to our rescue, we beg of him,” another food vendor lamented.

Poor drainage affecting residents of Ayigbe town

Ayigbe Town can be found on the right side of the Dome taxi rank. This community is another flood prone area.

The indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the gutter by residents is suspected to be a great contribution to the flooding that frequently occur at Dome crossing. Upon a look into the gutter, one will find all kinds of rubbish choked in the drain, this does not allow the free flow of water causing it to overflow unto the streets.

A resident at Ayigbe Town, Mr. Agyekum lamented on the poor sanitation in the area. He mentioned that those who are caught dumping garbage and human excreta into the gutter turn to attack individuals who spoke against the act.

A barber who has his shop sited some few meters away from the gutter revealed that, when it rains, snakes find their way into their shops. He also recalled how children were being carried away by the floods.

“When it rains residences are greatly affected, there was a time when a child got drowned… the authorities need to distill the drain, we are really suffering. I have to close down my shop when it rains.”

Residents are threatening to vote against the sitting government and all subsequent ones who fail to pay attention to their predicament.