Kpandai DCE orders removal of structures obstructing watercourses after flooding

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kpandai, Haruna Abdul-Karim, has directed the removal of structures obstructing watercourses and appealed for the expansion of a bridge to address recurring flooding in the town.

The measures follow flooding on September 23, 2026, which submerged sections of the road around Amdaway Filling Station and the Kpandai Yam Market, disrupting transportation and commercial activities.

Mr Abdul-Karim has called on the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Urban Roads Department to support the construction of a larger bridge to improve water flow and prevent the recurring floods.

He said expanding the bridge was critical to protecting lives and property while ensuring the road remained accessible during the rainy season.

The DCE explained that concerns about the bridge's capacity dated back to its construction in 2018, when he was the Assembly Member for Kpandai Central.

“Today, I feel vindicated because I raised these concerns during construction, but the leadership at the time ignored my call for a bigger bridge,” he said.

The flooding affected the filling station and surrounding shops, forcing businesses to suspend operations and threatening the livelihoods of traders.

A resident, Rebecca Katrapor, said the community continued to experience severe disruptions whenever heavy rainfall occurred.

“We have been battling with this flooding every year whenever there is a heavy downpour. The bridge is too small to accommodate the volume of water. As you can see, even on working days, everything comes to a standstill. We cannot go to the market, children cannot cross to school and vehicles cannot move,” she said.

She appealed to the authorities to expand the bridge to allow water to flow freely during heavy rainfall and prevent further disruptions to daily activities.

Beyond the proposed bridge expansion, Mr Abdul-Karim said the assembly would no longer tolerate the construction of shops and other structures along watercourses.

He disclosed that district planning officers, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and district engineers had been instructed to serve notices on owners of structures built on watercourses to have them removed.

According to him, it was unreasonable for the assembly to continue committing public funds to flood control when some of the causes could be addressed through responsible environmental practices and adherence to planning regulations.

He also cautioned residents against dumping refuse into gutters, warning that the practice obstructed water flow and heightened the risk of flooding during heavy downpours.

The assembly, he added, would step up enforcement of its sanitation by-laws to improve environmental cleanliness and ensure drains and waterways remained clear.

The Assembly Member for the Kpandai West Electoral Area, Issahaq Sulemana Ganiwu, supported the planned removal of structures obstructing watercourses and urged residents to cooperate with the assembly.

He said further rainfall was expected in the coming weeks and encouraged residents to work together to reduce the impact of flooding on households, businesses and road users.