Govt to commit funds for drains construction in Accra

Accra, Oct. 27, GNA E2=80" President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday announced plans by Government to commit funds to the Accra city authorities to construct more drains in flood prone areas.

Though the President did not say how much would be given to the Accra Metropolitan Authority, City Mayor Alfred Oko Vanderpuije said GH C2¢ 500 million, would be needed for the project.

President Mills said this when he invited the City Mayor to the Osu Castle in Accra for an emergency meeting on ways to address the perennial problem of floods in Accra.

He said the decision to urgently commit the resources to the project was informed by the need for the effective implementation of disaster risk reduction measures so as to prevent, or reduce the effects of disasters.

President Mills said there should be more efforts towards disaster prevention adding that where disasters could not be totally prevented, adequate steps should be taken to reduce their effects.

He urged the AMA to intensify its revenue generation efforts, particularly the collection of property rates adding that they should also increase their efforts in ensuring that unauthorized structures in waterways were removed.

He said E2=80=9CThe intolerable situation where people blatantly build in waterways is unacceptable. You have our support to ensure that the collection of property rate is intensified=E2=80=9D.

Mr Vanderpuije thanked the President for the support, adding that with the assurance of funding, his outfit would immediately begin preparations for the construction of the drains.

He said storm drains were constructed two years ago in areas such as Dansoman, Mataheko, Manponse and Chorkor, to address the flooding of those areas, and the same process would be replicated in other flood prone areas under the new project.

Mr Vanderpuije said the building of the drains would make a lot of difference, and assured the President of more action to address other factors that caused the floods.