Protecting, preserving Accra's environment

1939 in Accra. 

In recent times, earth tremors have been recorded in Accra in March and December 2018, January, February and March 2019 and in June 2020. 

Comprehensive plan

These environmental situations in Accra make it necessary for a comprehensive plan for the development and management of the city.

It is important to keep updating and improving the plan in the face of climate change and environmental degradation which is going on not only in Ghana but on a global scale.

The Achimota Forest must be protected and enhanced with the development of many more parks in the city.

It is strongly suggested that trees be planted along the major streets in Accra, not only to improve the air quality of the city but also to make it beautiful. 

The rivers and watercourses in the city must be protected from construction because as said earlier, nature will always follow its course.

There is actually no need to build a house on a watercourse, gutter or a drain.

Sometimes, these houses or structures are abandoned after an unusually heavy rainfall event. 

Accra is not the only city in the world which is located in an earthquake zone.

Technologies have been developed in many countries to construct large and high buildings that can withstand the shaking of the earth.

Tokyo in Japan is an example. 

We must learn from these countries to develop codes for construction in earthquake areas.

One of our universities can specialise in this discipline of earthquake engineering. 

In recent years, it became evident that when a fire occurs in any part of the city, the Fire Service vehicles are not able to quickly get water to attend to the disaster.

Groundwater can be used to replace treated water for putting off fire.

This will consist of drilling boreholes at marketplaces and other strategic locations to be used as fire hydrants.

The groundwater can also be used to clean the gutters and the streets, thereby keeping the city clean. 

The writer is a retired Environmental Hydrogeologist

Email address: t_akiti@yahoo.com