Regional Minister directs unauthorised structures pull down
The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) has directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region to inspect watercourses and demolish unauthorised structures blocking the free flow of water as part of measures to prevent flooding and safeguard lives and property.
The council has also directed them to clear drains, remove refuse and other obstructions from drainage channels, as well as deploy sanitation task forces after every rainfall to clear debris from drains to prevent subsequent flooding.
As part of the measures, the RCC has ordered them to remove unauthorised lorry stations operating along roads and within public spaces that obstruct traffic flow and pose a threat to public safety during emergencies.
Additionally, environmental health officers and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) officials have been tasked to intensify public education campaigns on proper sanitation practices and flood prevention measures.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Ocloo, gave the directives at a press conference in Accra yesterday to outline interventions rolled out by the council to prevent floods and also make successful rescue interventions during the rainy season.
Rains
The minister explained that recent weather advisories from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (G-Met) had revealed the likelihood of more heavy rains in the coming weeks.
She said the RCC was collaborating with stakeholders to ensure a swift response to flooding and related disasters, and added that several flood-prone communities, including Kaneshie, Alajo, Odawna, Circle, Weija, Tetegu, Ashalaja, Dansoman, Adabraka, Ashaiman, Tema Communities One and Two, Madina, Adentan, Lakeside, Borteyman, Pantang and Kwabenya, were under close monitoring.
She added that emergency response teams at both the regional and district levels were working closely with the security agencies to ensure rapid response during emergencies.
Mrs Ocloo said relief items, including food supplies, mattresses, blankets, first aid kits and life jackets, had been prepositioned at strategic locations across the region to support emergency response efforts.
“Safe havens and temporary shelter centres, including selected schools, community centres, assembly halls, religious institutions and government facilities located on safer grounds, have been identified to support evacuation efforts where necessary,” she said.
Mrs Ocloo urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drains and avoid building on watercourses, while also urging residents in flood-prone communities to relocate temporarily during periods of heavy rainfall.
She also cautioned motorists and pedestrians to avoid driving or walking through flooded roads and drains.
Streetlight
Touching on the Weija Dam spillage, she said the regional security council was assessing the extent of destruction while facilitating the evacuation of affected persons.
On streetlights, the minister said the RCC had collaborated with the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to install 3,000 solar streetlights on selected roads across the region to improve visibility and reduce cable theft.
The selected roads include the Katamanso School Junction to Botwe School Junction stretch, Ntreh Avenue, Amankani Avenue, Adjei Onanor Street, Ashyie Fulani Road, Amanfrom to Katamanso, School Junction to Ritz Junction and the Palace Mall to Aglizaa Road.
She added that they were also rehabilitating streetlights on 52 roads, including the Liberation Road, Tse-Addo-Burma Camp Road and the Nima and Kanda Highway.
On the issue of cattle on the street, Ms Ocloo said the RCC permitted the display of livestock for Eid-ul-Adha until Friday, but gave an assurance that affected areas would be cleared by Saturday.
She said she had also directed MCEs to designate proper locations for future livestock displays.
Agencies
The Greater Accra Regional Director of the NADMO, Dennis Nartey Adjannor, appealed to affected residents to cooperate with evacuation teams, warning that the situation could worsen if the dam receives more inflows.
The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Duuti Tuaruka, assured the public of adequate deployment of personnel to support demolition and flood prevention exercises in the region.
