Second phase of Odaw Drainage Project to start

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday cut the sod to mark the beginning of the Phase Two of the Odaw Drainage Project, aimed at mitigating flooding and its related problems, after commissioning the first phase at a ceremony at Avenor.

The second phase, being funded with an 11 million Euro credit from Agence Francaise de Development of France comprises the reconstruction of the Avenor and Alajo bridges to enhance the capacity of the 1.25 kilometre Odaw channel between the bridges. The project, which is being executed by Messrs Sonitra is expected to be completed by December next year.

Vice President Mahama, who defied a heavy downpour to cut the sod, underscored the importance of protecting lives and securing the nation's investments in roads, telecommunications Electricity, housing, industry and others against flooding.

In furtherance of this, he said, the government would continue developing viable projects initiated by the previous government, including all the secondary and tertiary drains in settlements such as Dzorwulu, Tesano, Alajo, Kanda, Asylum Down North Kaneshie, Awudome and Accra Central.

Vice President Mahama advised residents along the drains to desist from dumping waste into the drains to enable it to carry storm water into the sea. "It is important for me to emphasise that the reconstruction of primary and secondary drains within the city, may not lead to flood reduction if such investments are jeopardised by our own attitudes, behaviour and acts of indiscipline," he said.

"I am informed that 348 structures have been erected so close to the Odaw channel that they would have to be partially or wholly demolished to pave the way for the works to be executed," he said. Vice President Mahama blamed city planners and authorities for their failure to monitor and enforce bylaws and tasked them to co-ordinate their activities to prevent the recurrence of these problems.

He announced that the government had almost completed negotiations to secure funding for the third phase of the Odaw drainage works, which would involve the reconstruction of the Odaw channel from Alajo to the motorway at Apenkwa. It is expected to start this year.

Vice President Mahama, however, noted that nearly 30 million dollars was still needed to cover 15 out of 25 secondary drains that had been identified for improvement in the city to be able to effectively minimise flooding.

"The designs of these secondary drains have been prepared and the government is currently exploring funding sources totalling nearly 30 million dollars for their reconstruction. Until these outstanding works are carried out, several areas of Accra would continue to face flooding," he cautioned.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, described the downpour as an act of God that practically demonstrated the importance of the drains adding that, the turn up of officials at the ceremony indicated their commitment to find a lasting solution to the flooding.

He commended Messrs China International Water and Electric Company for the efficient and speedy manner with which they executed the first phase of the

Odaw Drainage project and urged Sonitra to emulate them. The project involved the reconstruction of the 3.25 rectangular concrete channel from the Abossey Okai Bridge to the Avenor Bridge. The World Bank funded it at a cost of 12 million dollars.