The New Juaben South Municipal Chief Executive, Ransford Owusu Boakye, has hinted at plans to demolish all unauthorised fixed concrete slabs constructed by shop owners over drainage systems, which are obstructing the free flow of water in the municipality.
The MCE explained that many shop owners have illegally built fixed concrete covers over drains, a practice that not only blocks the flow of running water but also makes desilting and maintenance extremely difficult.
Mr. Owusu Boakye said he will convene meeting with engineers at the Assembly to assess all unathourised concrete slaps on drains for demolition.
“What we have also realised is that some shop owners have constructed fixed concrete slaps and drains obstructing free flow of running water so I am going to sit with the technical people to assess the situation where we have to demolish we will”. Said Ransford Owusu Boakye.
He made this known on Saturday, October 4, during the National Sanitation Day exercise, where a major desilting operation took place at the Prince Boateng Roundabout in Koforidua, an area notorious for severe flooding at the least rains.
It was observed that many unathourised concrete slaps and constructions have been done on drains while residents discard litters including food waste into the gutters creating congestion and blocking free flow of water.
The MCE said a hug storm drain is needed in the long term to contain the huge volume of running water from the obuortabiri mountains to permanently curb the flooding incident at the Prince Boateng Roundabout which connects the Eastern Regional Hospital and the New Juaben Manhene Palace as well as major lorry terminals in the capital.
“Our priority is that we are packaging the project and send to central government because for this project we can’t use our common fund to do it. I am hoping that under my leadership this drainage project is done.It will be a credit”.
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The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, who joined the exercise, urged residents to take environmental cleanliness seriously, emphasizing that “the environment is fundamental to human existence.”.
“The government of Ghana has just launched the National Sanitation Day and today we have all been asked to go out to clean our environment. All that we are telling people is that Bible and even there is a saying that cleanliness is next to God. Our environment depicts who we are. Let’s try keeping the environment clean. What is so shocking is that as you keep on cleaning, there are people throwing things into the drainage. And we have this water stuck here because we have choked drainages. We just want to tell the people around that it is for the good of the people to keep the environment clean”.
The cleanup exercise saw participation from several institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, NADMO, and other civic groups.
Some Inmates convicted over illegal mining were used for the clean up exercise.
Shops in the municipality remained closed until the exercise was completed.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
