Tema will be safe this raining season - NADMO

The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has assured residents of the Tema Metropolis of a flood free raining season.

Mr Ebenezer Cudjoe, Tema Metropolitan Director of NADMO, told the Ghana News Agency that three major storm drains in the area has been successfully dredged.

Mr Cudjoe said NADMO in collaboration with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) dredged the Communities 5, 18 and 20 storm drains which often overflows leading to flooding and threat to life and property in the areas whenever it rained.

He explained that the Community 18 and 20 storm drains carried water from rivers Mamahuma and Onukpa Waahe from Ajirigaano near East Legon in the Greater Accra Region into the Sakumo lagoon and subsequently into the sea.

He added that the Community Five drain also carried flood waters from the area and its environs into the Sakumo lagoon and the sea.

According to him, it was their aim to dredge all major drains that linked the various rivers in and around the Metropolis into the sea adding however that his outfit was waiting for the release of the next tranche of money to fully complete clearing.

Other water bodies that carry rain water through drains in the Metropolis into the sea are Rivers Ozoku, Gbeemi and the Chemu lagoon.

While the Ozoku River connects from the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) down into the Chemu Lagoon, river Gbeemi carried water from the Adjie-Kojo under bridge into the Sakumo Lagoon.

The Chemu Lagoon, he added, also carried flood waters from the Tema timber market drain into the sea.

He indicated that all Assembly Members in flood prone areas had been tasked by NADMO through the Assembly to embark on special clean-up exercises targeted at clearing all drains in their areas.

Mr Cudjeo appealed to residents who were fond of dumping their refuse into drains whenever it was about to rain to desist from the act as it also contributed to flooding.

He added that some developers also built on water ways, an act that could spell doom for residents during the raining season saying a resident filled the front of his house at Tema Community Five while another at Lashibi Vivian Farms area walled his house leading to the flooding of houses around them.

He said residents who may be trapped in their homes or in any part of the Metropolis during the rain should call NADMO officials for assistance on the following toll-free numbers; 999, 0202014040, 0299350303, 0299350244, and 0299350620.

The Tema Metropolis has a total of nine flood prone areas with Tema East mostly the Newtown area burdened with eight and Tema central having one.

The flood prone areas are: Chemu lagoon, VALCO down, Zigenshor, waterland, parts of Bankuman, Acheampong village, Abonkor area and stormdrain around GTMC, and Community Six SOS down.

The Tema West Municipality has 18 flood prone area which including Community 17 roundabout, Community 18 washing bay joint, Community 20 Awudu Issaka down, Klagon, Sakumono Ramsar site, Abbatoir bridge, Aponkye clinic and Devtraco.

Ten safe havens made available by NADMO in case of flooding in the flood prone areas are Eastern Naval Base, Lighthouse Church -Newtown, Mexico School, Grace Outreach Church, Stanley Business College, Bethel Prayer Camp, St Augustine’s Catholic, George Gunn Int. Academy, Victorious Child Ministry and the Adjei-Kojo public school.