We have spent GHC1.5 million in clearing the city so far - AMA PRO

The Public Relations Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Gilbert Ankrah claims that prior to the heavy downpour, the AMA cleared all roadside primary and tertiary drains within the Metropolis.

In his submission, he said the exercise began on 3rd of March from circle and its environs, Awudome, first light through to Abossey Okai roundabout, Odorna, drains from ICGC down to the Korle and all roadside drains.

He added these exercises amounted to the cost of GHc1.5 million. The Host of Frontline Show on Rainbow 87,5fm, Kwame Tutu counted this claim saying that he has received reports on Friday that these drains are still choked. ‘’From March till now it is probable that these filth might have gone back into these drains.

He further asked if the AMA collected the filth generated from the exercise and in his response he said, all these filth were gathered after they were left on the banks to dry. Gilbert Ankrah said the greatest challenge as a country is the indiscriminate dumping of refuse by citizens.

These refuse end up into the drains reducing the efforts of the assembly to nothing, he lamented. He gave an assurance that the filth are been cleared instead it is the negative attitudes of citizens that poses the challenge. The media he said was taken along to confirm the extent of work being done.

The Minister of works and housing, Mr. Samuel Atta-Akyea also embarked on a similar tour with the assembly, Gilbert Ankrah said. There is, therefore, the need for all of us to change our attitudes to ensure sanity in our environment.

The assembly has also put measures in place to deal with offenders, he warned. When he was asked if the amount was adequate to help desilt the Odaw drain he responded saying, the assembly is not working on the Odaw because it is quite a bigger drain. Government he said has allocated funds which will help authorities desilt the Odawn drain soon.

The assembly he said has also ensured the construction of new drains to supplement the old ones. He added that aside the desilting of the Odaw under the Ministry, some drains are under construction at Mallam, Accra Academy and behind the market at Odawna.

Concluding, Gilbert Ankrah said a lot of measures have been adopted to prevent Accra from flooding like previous years.