Addressing Accra’s perennial flooding challenges

Two significant events have taken place in the past few months that have showcased Ghana and the city of Accra as one of the torchbearers in the modernisation process within developing countries.

The first instance was when the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, won the award as the best mayor, a feat that no doubt brought glory to Ghana and especially Accra, our national capital.

Then there is the gathering of mayors currently taking place in Accra.

The Daily Graphic believes that the AMA boss won the prestigious award because of his efforts in the uplift of Accra.

Elsewhere in Africa and the developed world, torrential rainfalls are experienced seasonally that cause temporary disturbance for the flow of traffic.

But while those situations abate with the stoppage of the rains, the situation is different in Accra.

In our case, all that it takes for flooding to occur is just some light rainfall, as occurred yesterday and left some of our roads unmotorable for several hours.

Our situation has been primarily caused by refuse that has been deposited in our drainage systems to choke our gutters, thereby impeding the free flow of rainwater.

Beyond the flooding situation are scores of challenges that confront the city of Accra, among them the unauthorised siting of structures, some of which sit in areas that should have been allowed for the passage of rainwater, as well as the dumping of solid waste at unapproved areas.

Roads in the city are riddled with potholes, traffic lights fail to work regularly, creating needless gridlocks that sap energy from road users en route to their various workplaces. 

It appears that in our part of the world we are adept at paying lip service to matters that engage our attention and for which there is the need to put our thoughts and hearts to work in alleviating the plight of those who suffer the brunt more.

It has now become a common spectacle to see goats, sheep and other livestock competing for space with vehicles and other road users, even though the city authorities have clear regulations against the indiscriminate presence of livestock within the city.

We need to take practical action to address these challenges that threaten to undermine the progress we have made as a people.

This means that those who are responsible for all those acts that affect other members of society adversely are punished for their actions and inaction.

Clearly, Mr Vanderpuije is enthusiastic about the management of the city, but what it takes to achieve results is not just enthusiasm but passion and vision that can translate into positive action.

We also recall that the government and the city authorities promised the construction of some storm drains before the onset of the rains. The question that remains is whether those facilities have been executed.

We call on the city authorities to walk the talk and take proactive steps to end the perennial flooding in parts of the national capital.