We have no excuse for any further loss of life - Parliament

Mr Samuel Atta Akyea on Thursday told Parliament that some drainage projects including the dredging of the lower section of the Odaw River would commence soon.

He said the projects will cost about GHC194.5 million; to which Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader in Parliament urged the Government to make timely and adequate release of funds for the projects to be executed to save lives.

Mr Akyea assured the nation of the preparedness of the Ministry to deal with flooding, and announced that the Ministry has renewed the contract with Dredge Masters, who are working on the sections of drainage channels in Accra, for another two years.

“The dredging of the lower section of the Odaw river will commence immediately, “Mr Akyea, who also represents the people of the Abuakwa South Constituency said, adding, that this forms part of Government’s critical management plan to deal with perennial flooding in Accra.

“With regards to the Odaw River which has been causing perennial flooding in the nation’s capital, improvement works have begun on some sections of the channel,” Mr Akyea said.

In a contribution, Mr Iddrisu called on the Government to give priority to the Ministry of Works and Housing in the disbursement of budgetary allocations to deal with flooding in the country.

“What the Minister needs is not this intervention. Do a comprehensive budget, go and get the President’s support and approval to reform the drainage system of our country and to do away with open drains,” Mr Iddrisu suggested.

“We have no excuse for any further loss of life,” Mr Idrissu said.

The city of Accra is threatened with annual flooding, which has claimed a number of lives in recent years.

On June 3, 2015, close to 160 lives were lost in Accra as a result of flood waters that sparked fire at a filling station at the Kwame Nkurmah Circle.

A downpour in Accra last Sunday also claimed five lives, with the flood affecting the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, Kaneshie and Avenor areas.

A number of roads were rendered impassable.