Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing, and Water Resources, has declared that the government will strengthen efforts to demolish unauthorised structures in flood-prone regions throughout Accra as part of attempts to alleviate the city’s perennial flooding problem.
The announcement was made by the Minister while conducting an inspection tour of a number of flood-affected localities in the wake of Wednesday’s intense downpour, which submerged portions of the capital and hampered traffic and resident mobility.
The bridge at Dome Pillar Two, where increasing floodwaters overwhelmed the structure and flooded neighbouring residences, was one of the crucial flood hotspots that Kenneth Gilbert Adjei led a team of officials to check.
During the visit, the Minister told reporters that the inspection showed that the bridge’s existing capacity is insufficient to handle the growing amount of water passing through the area during periods of severe rains.
“We first visited the bridge at Dome Pillar Two and observed that the bridge overflowed, causing floodwaters to enter people’s homes. Government will work on that bridge because it is too low,” he stated.
The Minister states that engineers have suggested expanding the bridge in order to boost its capacity and enhance the stormwater flow beneath it.
“The intervention is to raise the bridge so that the volume of water flowing through the area will not interfere with traffic using the road. The bridge must have sufficient capacity underneath to accommodate the flow of water,” he explained.
He pointed out that upstream developments and human activities that block natural streams are also contributing factors to the area’s floods, in addition to the bridge infrastructure.
“If there is a large volume of water coming from upstream areas such as Abokobi, it has a direct effect here. At the same time, traffic volumes are high, making it necessary to ensure that both transportation and drainage needs are properly addressed,” he stated.
One of the main reasons of flooding in the city, according to the Minister, is the growing number of structures being built on rivers and in flood-prone areas.
“It is not only about the bridge. We have also observed that some people have built on waterways. These developments obstruct the natural flow of water and worsen flooding whenever there is heavy rainfall,” he noted.
According to Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, the government has established a special task force to find and remove unlawful buildings that are situated on waterways and other unapproved developments that cause floods.
“We are all part of government, and therefore we are calling on those affected to cooperate. A task force has been commissioned and will begin removing all unauthorised buildings situated on waterways and in flood-prone areas,” he warned.
The Minister emphasised that although the government is still dedicated to funding flood control and drainage infrastructure projects, citizens must also contribute by following planning laws and refraining from encroaching on watercourses.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the underlying causes of flooding in Accra by combining public collaboration, planning law enforcement, and infrastructure improvements.
The Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water Resources conducted the most recent inspection as part of larger efforts to evaluate the effects of the recent rains and put immediate and long-term measures in place to safeguard people, property, and vital infrastructure from future flooding crises.
Source: newsthemegh.com