To avert the perennial flooding that engulfs the city every year, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has commenced the dredging of major drains within the metropolis.

The expectation is that when completed, the projects would minimise flooding as the rains set in.

Inspecting progress of work of some of the drains yesterday, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, noted that the metropolis did not record severe flooding during the recent rains because of the ongoing projects.

He recounted that about a month ago, the President, accompanied by the Regional Minister, visited some potential flooding areas in the metropolis, after which he gave a directive for drains to be de-silted to prevent the recurrent flooding in the metropolis.

He said, “AMA, through its commitment to make Accra a world-class city, would not rest on its oars. We are working to ensure that property and lives are protected,” he stressed.

In a related development, the Accra MCE also visited some roads which have been reconstructed and other new roads within the metropolis. The Accra MCE appealed to the general public to desist from dumping refuse into drains, to avoid getting them choked.

“The AMA would do its best to ensure environmental standard effectiveness to avoid frequent flooding in the metropolis,” he stressed.

As part of improving the Metropolis’s sanitation issues the Accra MCE hinted that 45% of sewage lines have been completed, with reconstruction of pump stations in their advanced stages.

Communities and households would be enabled to directly connect their sewage lines to the central line when the project is completed.

This, in addition to the rehabilitation of the mudor feacal treatment plant, will eliminate the traditional method of dumping feacal waste into the Atlantic Ocean at ‘Lavender Hill.’

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has already completed a Liquid Sewage Treatment Plant at Legon, which is serving the University of Ghana and its environs.

Mr Graham Sarbah, Head of Drains Unit, AMA, also added that the drains are being de-silted across the metropolis to pave way for the rains.

He again appealed to the general public to desist from dumping refuse into drains since it resulted in choked gutters.

Dr Vanderpuije inspected ongoing works on drains and roads around Banana Inn, Gbegbeyesei and Dansoman.