We’ll need $700m to solve Accra flooding – Atta Akyea

The Minister of Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea, has said it will cost the country over $700 million to effectively and permanently deal with the perennial flooding in the Greater Accra Region alone.

The Minister said this when he visited some flood affected areas today [Monday], as has been the norm, after such incidents. The Sunday downpour affected areas such as Asylum Down, Avenor, Alajo and the Kwame Nkrumah interchange.

Speaking to journalist after the tour, Hon. Atta Akyea said finding the funds to address the flooding would provide a permanent solution, considering that government has not lacked the required technical expertise.

“My only new approach will be finding money. The engineering sense won’t change. We are not going to reinvent the wheel. The engineers have put together the solution. All we need to do as a solution is to get the cash. If you have the money, the engineers will just roll out the plans and they will start working and you won't see this again.”

The Minister explained that, “from here, we are going to ensure that we do what will meet the emergency situations. The de-silting of drains is going to be carried out. Tentatively, I am seeing something in the neighborhood of $700 million dollars to fix what is in this area alone… this is what stares at us in the face every year; but we will find the money and do it.”

In the meantime, Mr. Atta Akyea said the dredging in critical areas would provide “a quick fix to ensure there is the free flow into the lagoon and eventually into the sea.”

Flooding on Sunday
The Sunday downpour once again left the Odaw river overflowing its banks. Parts of the Las Palmas restaurant at La Paz, were partially submerged in water whilst the road linking the Ring Road West towards Ako Adjei interchange was also flooded.

The 74 million euros spent on the Circle Interchange project also appears not to have solved the perennial flooding issue, as the rains once again left pedestrians stranded by flood waters around the interchange.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana