<<Print>>

A Mamobi resident, Alhaji Mohamed Iddi is warning government to take steps to avoid a repeat of the June 3, 2015 twin disaster that claimed many lives and destroyed several properties.

According to him, it is likely this year will witness heavy downpours across the country and as such government must immediately take urgent steps to contain the expected torrential rains including, desilting of all drains to avert another disaster.

Speaking to The aL-hAJJ in an exclusive interview, Alhaji Mohamed Iddi said “government should as a matter of urgency reintroduce the periodic desilting of drains particularly in the nation’s capital, Accra and the various regional capitals and major towns to avert the calamity that rocked the country last year.”    

He said it is very unfortunate government has in the last four years stopped awarding contracts for the annual desilting of drains and channels, particularly in Accra, adding “if the government does not take immediate action to desilt these drains, another calamity may befall us.

A similar concern was shared by a leading member of the NDC (name withheld) who is forecasting dire electoral consequences for the ruling party if nothing is done to clear the drains of filth to avert flooding this year.

“The drains must be desilted before the rains starts to avoid flooding. This is an election year so if people are displaced, it can affect our chances of retaining power. We live in a country where everything is blamed on government so if we don’t clear the gutters and these people are displaced as a result of floods, we will be doomed,” he stated

“I am aware that in the past four years, contracts have not been awarded for the desilting of the drains. Now everywhere you pass, especially Accra, all the drains are chocked with plastic waste and grass. Seriously, I foresee another heartbreaking disaster when the rains start,” he added.

Floods, resulting from torrential rains, brought Accra to its knees on June 3, 2015, with unimaginable loss of lives and destruction to properties.

About 159 people were killed at the GOIL filling station, near the GCB Bank Towers building that exploded during the rainfall.

Many of the victims of the filling station inferno were among others who had sought shelter there to escape the flood waters.

The AMA subsequently dredged the Odaw River and demolished structures on waterways to avoid future occurrence of the calamity.

But the NDC guru said “the demolishing of structures on waterways and dredging of the Odaw River alone cannot prevent flooding. The small drains and channels in Accra especially, must immediately be desilted.”