Zoomlion Ghana Restricted, the Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Group (NADMO) and its companions are deploying personnel to all Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) throughout the Accra Metropolitan Space to observe and preserve flood-prone drainage channels, as a part of efforts to take care of the features made within the current flood management train.
The transfer follows three days of cleansing, desilting and dredging operations carried out from June 10 to 12 in collaboration with FeDems Restricted, Dredge Masters Restricted, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Nationwide Hearth Service and varied MMDAs.
The train focused main drainage channels in flood-prone areas reminiscent of Malam, GBC, Ouidja, Circle, Kaneshie and Aibulkuma West following current heavy rains that brought on flooding in elements of the capital.
Mr Ricky Anokye Frimpong, Larger Accra Regional Supervisor of Zoomlion Ghana Restricted, informed the media that the deployment of workers was geared toward guaranteeing the long-term sustainability of the intervention.
“To make sure sustainability, we now have despatched officers to the MMDA. We all know that this sort of coaching will proceed, a minimum of on a quarterly foundation. We’re additionally conducting a marketing campaign with NADMO generally known as the ‘No Do No Do’ flood consciousness marketing campaign, which we consider will go a great distance in preserving these gutters clear, similar to we now have completed within the final three days,” he stated.
Frimpong stated the officers will work carefully with environmental well being departments inside their respective MMDAs and NADMO district officers to establish flood-prone areas, monitor drainage programs and coordinate common sediment elimination actions.
Talking for Siab Constituency in Ablekuma West Municipality, the Municipal Govt, Mr George Kpakpo Allotey, stated the council was decided to make sure the free stream of water by means of drains and waterways.
“Our purpose is to get this website in good condition and clear the gutters so water can stream freely,” he stated.
He revealed that the council has already began imposing laws towards encroachment on drainage channels.
“We recognized a number of buildings constructed over gutters and requested the homeowners to take away them inside two hours. In any other case, we’d have eliminated them ourselves. Happily, they agreed to conform,” he stated.
Mr. Alotey attributed the principle explanation for the recurring floods to human actions, particularly indiscriminate dumping into drains.
“We’re interesting to residents to cease dumping waste in gutters, as a result of these drains are meant for water to stream away. As soon as the drains are stuffed with rubbish, water can’t stream freely and flooding turns into inevitable,” he stated.
He described flooding as a problem that extends past municipal boundaries, citing widespread encroachment on waterways throughout the Accra metropolitan space.
“Yearly we speak about flooding, however this 12 months the rains have been significantly heavy. In case you look past Weija, many waterways have been eroded. So that is extra of a nationwide drawback than only a municipal drawback,” he stated.
MCE stated council resolved to undertake a complete drainage upkeep program after years of neglect.
“The sort of coaching has not been held for almost eight years. It’s lengthy overdue and we’re working to make sure that all gutters within the municipality are cleaned and maintained,” he stated.
He additionally referred to as on residents to assist enforcement efforts by reporting people who improperly get rid of waste.
“Our message to Ghanaians is easy: change your perspective. Gutters are constructed for a function and must be used for that function. In case you see somebody dumping rubbish in a drain, please report it and we’ll take needed motion,” he added.
Mr Frimpong warned that the heaviest rains of the season have been but to come back and burdened the must be ready.
“What we’re at the moment experiencing is only the start. The true rain will not be but right here and we must be absolutely ready for it,” he stated.
He maintained that almost all flooding incidents in Accra are preventable by means of accountable waste disposal and common upkeep of drainage infrastructure.
“What residents of the Accra metropolitan space want to know is that flooding will not be solely brought on by pure elements. Human actions contribute considerably. Most of the floods we expertise might be averted if individuals stopped dumping into drains,” he stated.
“We constructed these gutters to channel rainwater, however over time they crammed up with trash and silt, in order that they require steady dredging and upkeep,” he added.
The sustainability plan additionally consists of neighborhood involvement by means of native unit committees, which is able to mobilize residents for quarterly clean-ups and assist efforts to curb unlawful dumping in drains and waterways.
