We are constructing drains to resolve the Kasoa-Mallam Highway flood - Weija-Gbawe Assembly

An engineer at the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly, Dr. Daniel Sowah, has said that his outfit is actively addressing the flooding on the Kasoa-Mallam Highway.

He stated that erosion upstream has exacerbated the impact of heavy rainfall, leading to the floods.

The engineer indicated that the assembly has engaged with key stakeholders, including the Greater Accra Regional Minister-designate, Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus Glover, to devise effective solutions.

Dr. Sowah noted that his team is currently constructing a storm drain at Dogo to manage the water flow and alleviate the severity of floods, and improving conditions for road users.

“It is an issue that we are working to find solutions to and the regional minister-designate invited us to come and have a roundtable discussion on finding solutions to the challenge. The stream that discharges water around that area, we realised that this is a stream that starts from the Broadcasting area and carries water from upstream all the way to the SCC and Old Barrier area. It is not a result of sand winning but erosion from upstream.

“There are gutters, but not enough and we are now constructing a storm drain at Baba Dogo to contain the water, and it will lead the water to the Sunda Factory area and around the Old Melcom. We are also working on another drain to help with the situation,” the municipal engineer said, according to citinewsroom.com.

About the Kasoa-Mallam Highway flooding:

The Kasoa-Mallam Highway experienced severe flooding due to heavy rains, leaving many motorists stranded as floodwaters rendered significant portions of the road impassable.

GhanaWeb's coverage included videos that captured the onset of the gridlock during Monday's rush hour (May 13), and which persisted into the early hours of Tuesday (May 14).

A GhanaWeb reporter described the scene as "chaotic," noting that motorists were compelled to convert one side of the road into a single lane for traffic to and from Kasoa.

"Commuters found themselves stranded, with many opting to walk, while military personnel stepped in to manage the traffic flow.

"The recent downpour in Accra led to a standstill on the highway, causing commercial vehicles to vacate the area and leaving passengers without transportation. As of 0:45 hrs local time, the situation remained unresolved," reported the journalist.

An eyewitness who contacted the GhanaWeb newsroom confirmed the military's involvement in easing the congestion.

"The military personnel, en route from the Central Region to Burma Camp, intervened in the traffic management due to vehicles bound for Kasoa occupying the lane designated for Accra-bound traffic from Kasoa. Their actions were not part of an official directive but rather a spontaneous effort to facilitate movement for themselves and other commuters.

"While police officers were already directing traffic, the military's assistance was instrumental in clearing the lane overtaken by those heading to Kasoa," the eyewitness reported.

SB/AE