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The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, has disclosed that construction will begin in December on a new project to end the perennial flooding of the Odaw River Basin in Accra.

He said the government was currently in the process of recruiting consultants and contractors to execute the project which will be funded by a $200million World Bank loan.

According to the Minister, the floods are caused by structural problems which would be solved by the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project.

He said: "A big part of the problem here (Odawna) is structural and it requires some huge construction and re-engineering which I have indicated to you that government has secured funding for that project called the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project which seeks to address the flood issues associated with the Odaw River Basin.

"So, that one is ongoing, currently we are in the process of hiring consultants and contractors and per the plan, by December towards early next year construction will start".

He said the project aims to improve access to flood risk management, solid waste management, basic infrastructure and services in the targeted communities within the Odaw River Basin.

Mr Asenso-Boakye also stated that in the interim, the government was currently dredging the Odaw ahead of the rainy season.

He made this known after a meeting with the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Executives of the Odawna Garages Association and the Assemblyman for the area, Mr Kendrick Kinnah.

In an interview with the media after a tour of some areas surrounding the Odaw, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings commended the Minister for committing to dredge the Odaw.

"At this point, the timeliness of the intervention is important because if the main structural intervention is next year, then we need an early intervention with regards to the dredging before the rains begin and I glad the Minister indicated that will be done urgently because there are 2,000 people that work in the Odawna Garages and their livelihoods are affected every time it rains," she said.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings also appealed to all Ghanaians and waste disposal companies to desist from dumping waste in drains.

She also expressed gratitude to the Minister for taking time out of his schedule to visit the area for first-hand information.