The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) has emphasised its commitment to address flooding and sanitation challenges in the area in collaboration with the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

 The construction of drainage systems and the removal of structures on watercourses are some key initiatives to be extensively embarked upon by the assembly to ease the annual cycle of flooding and sanitation challenges.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings emphasised the need to also address the excessive production and release of refuse from the upstream of the municipality into the major drains, thereby causing flooding during heavy downpours.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for the area, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings, was speaking during a working tour last Thursday in various electoral areas of the municipality with a team from KoKMA led by the Municipal Chief Executive, Alfred Allotey-Gaisie.   

Assurance

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings also assured some market women at Osu about the commitment to expanding the Osu market in fulfilment of their request made in collaboration with the KoKMA and the Ghana Tourism Authority, who had already commenced work at the market.

She also expressed commitment to constructing roads around the markets in the Accra Brewery enclave, which often became muddy during heavy downpours and thereby difficult for vehicles and pedestrians to use.

The MP appealed to constituents to desist from illegally erecting structures on watercourses and using the drains as landfills, leading to floods and polluting the environment. 

Other initiatives

The MCE also said the assembly would make the necessary funding available for projects started under the previous government, including the Zonal Council building at Osu, which is about 80 per cent complete.

Mr Allotey-Gaisie indicated that projects commenced under the previous government would not be left at the mercy of the weather, especially if they would address the needs of the residents in the municipality.

Also speaking on the sanitation challenges, he emphasised his commitment to working closely with the engineers and MP to identify and implement solutions to the sanitation challenges in the area.

“We have some drainage systems that have been tampered with and we are committed to fixing them.

We are here with our engineers and when we get back, we will draw the plans for them and fix them. 

“You can also see some residents complaining about illegal structures and their roads.

All these are visions of the assembly to be addressed; we are committed to addressing them,” he said. 

The partnership, he said, was aimed at bringing relief to residents and improving the overall quality of life in Klottey Korle.

He urged residents to also augment the vision and effort of the leadership of the area by engaging in proper sanitation practices.  

Observation

The Daily Graphic observed during a visit of storm drains by the team at Osu and Asylum Down that the drains were in a sorry state.

Aside from being filled with refuse such as plastics and organic waste, the team saw some residents comfortably defecating in the drains.