Ministry to dredge and de-silt Lafa Stream

Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - The Ministry of Works and Housing through its Hydrological Services Department has begun work for the channel improvement on the Lafa Stream from Santa Maria upstream of Barima Station at Mallam in Accra as part of its flood control measures. The Ministry would in addition construct one culvert on the stream before the end of the year to provide road access to ameliorate the difficulties that commuters face because of the widening and deepening of the Lafa Stream.

Dr Charles Brempong-Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, said this on Friday in Parliament when Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah, NDC- Ga South asked when the Ministry would dredge the Lafa Stream at Mallam to the Race Course in Accra to avoid future flooding.

He said the Ministry through its emergency flood control programme undertakes flood control works year after year on the Lafa Stream. These works include de-silting, widening and deepening of the channel and the construction of adequately sized culverts to pass floodwaters.

The Minister said it was hoped that the channel improvement works would cover the stretch between the Barima Service station and the Racecourse under the Emergency Flood Control Programme next year. Mr John Mahama, NDC-Bole, asked whether the Minister was aware that the storm drain on the Odaw River was also heavily silted and what measures were in place to address it.

Dr Brempong-Yeboah said the Ministry was concerned about the situation and had put it on contract for work to begin very soon. Mr Brandford Adu, NPP- Okere asked what future preventive measures the Ministry had concerning the Odaw River and the Minister said the project was on-going and the contractor was being advised to expedite action.

Mr Francis Agbotse, NDC- Ho West, asked what plans the Ministry had for the settlers of Sodom and Gomorrah along the Odaw River in relation to the dredging of the river and the Minister said there was close collaboration between it and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly for an amicable settlement.