President Akufo-Addo has charged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to remove structures obstructing the free flow of water immediately.
This comes after parts of Accra were submerged for the second time within a week, after heavy rains on Saturday, May 21 and midnight of Tuesday, May 24.
Speaking at the commissioning of two IHC Beaver Dredger and marine equipment by Dredge Masters, a subsidiary of Jospong Group of Companies at Tema, he asked MMDAs to ensure developers adhere to building permits and to sanction staff who issue permits to buildings on waterways.
He added that sanctioning offenders will serve as a deterrent to others who seek to engage in such acts.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the Presidency has established a monitoring unit that will report directly to the President on the progress of the measures.
He added that MMDCES will be held accountable for any breaches that result in damages from flooding.
“As President of the Republic, I will not allow the selfish acts of the few to jeopardise the collective futures of the rest of us. While government does its part, we cannot overlook the negative effects of dumping of refuse into open drains by some unpatriotic citizens,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo also updated the country on projects undertaken by his government to address the perennial flooding.
According to him, “government, since 2017 has spent some 450 million cedis of the flood control project which resulted in the reduced incidence of flooding, particularly in the flood-prone areas such as Odaw draining channel.”
He said phase 5 of the Accra Sanitary Sewerage and Storm Drainage Alleviation project intended to ensure the Odaw channel is free of filth and debris has been commissioned.
He noted that the construction of the 19km of drains has been completed, adding that “some 1000 km of drain has been excavated, re-channeled and maintained across the country.”
He, however acknowledged that more needs to be done to deal with the issue of flood permanently.
Latest Stories
-
Yinson, West African Rescue Association and Ahanta West Municipality tackle malaria
3 mins -
NHIA releases over GHS170m to settle healthcare providers
22 mins -
GFA will continue to support clubs in Africa – Kurt Okraku promises
24 mins -
Oheneyere Mrs. Helen Opong-Kesse
35 mins -
University of Ghana Stadium to host WAFU B U-17 Cup of Nations
42 mins -
Support us to demand better conditions of service – TEWU OF TUC tells members
54 mins -
CAFCC: Dreams FC holds dinner to honour players for reaching the semi-finals
57 mins -
200 students selected for KNUST e-learning ambassador training
1 hour -
KNUST gets its first virtual reality studios to boost teaching and learning
1 hour -
Don’t short-change labour under the guise of global economic recession – ICU-Ghana to government
1 hour -
We must guard against employers who want to short change us – ICU tells members
2 hours -
Dreams FC proved Ghanaian clubs can win CAF inter-club trophies – Ameenu Shardow
2 hours -
Naana Jane’s renomination shows NDC’s commitment to gender inclusivity – Kwabena Duffuor
2 hours -
Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp up for Crystal Palace Goal of the Season award
2 hours -
Deputy Director of Health Services calls for stakeholder support to ensure child health and vaccination success
2 hours