Anyaa-Sowutuom MP Backs Residents Protesting Poor Roads and Drainage Challenges; Decries Business Disruptions and Flooding Caused by Minor Rainfall
Honourable Tobbin noted that although the residents did not officially submit their petition to him, he read their concerns in a petition presented to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly on social media.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Anyaa Sowutuom Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Honourable Emmanuel Tobbin, has expressed excitement and fully backed the residents of A-Lang, Santa Maria, Awoshie, and Antieku, who demonstrated on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, to demand accountability from political leaders and government officials over worsening road and drainage challenges in their communities.
Honourable Tobbin noted that although the residents did not officially submit their petition to him, he read their concerns in a petition presented to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly on social media.
He expressed excitement about their initiative to voice their grievances to the current government."
The demonstrators didn't petition me directly, but I am officially aware that they will be holding a demonstration," the MP stated. "I did not want to participate in the protest itself, as I did not want it to look like a political demonstration.
However, I truly share their sentiments and support their move to demand action on proper drainage and poor roads within the constituency."According to the MP, the residents' demands are both realistic and long overdue.
He emphasized that the demonstration is a step in the right direction.
The MP lamented that even minor rainfall causes severe flooding in some communities within the constituency, destroying livelihoods and business activities.
He stressed that urgent action must be taken to manage these ongoing flooding disasters and safeguard the constituency.
Honourable Emmanuel Tobbin also stated that tackling the flooding disaster is not something an MP can do alone.
He explained that the problem is massive and requires urgent government intervention.
Finally, the MP pledged his continued commitment to pushing for measures that address the residents' concerns regarding poor road networks, drainage challenges, and other pressing issues affecting the livelihoods of the people in his constituency.
It would recalled that thousands of residents from A-Lang, Santa Maria, Awirshie, and Antieku have staged a massive demonstration to demand accountability from political leaders and government officials over worsening road and drainage challenges in their communities.
Under the theme "Operation Fix Our Roads and Drainage Systems," the protestors marched through the principal streets of their neighborhoods to present a petition to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly in Accra, Mr Emmanuel Nii Adotey Allotey.
The demonstrators held the Assembly accountable for the lack of government budgetary allocations, which are desperately needed for social and infrastructural development projects.
According to the protestors, the government has completely neglected their communities.
They lamented that perennial flooding has devastated local livelihoods, causing residents to lose valuable property to annual water disasters.
The residents bemoaned the persistent flooding and called on the Municipal Assembly to take urgent, lasting action to address the drainage challenges in their communities.
The residents reiterated that years of recurring floods have resulted in significant damage to homes, vehicles and other property, while previous interventions have failed to provide a lasting solution to the problem.
According to the residents, recent rains caused floodwaters to enter several homes, destroying household items and damaging vehicles.
One resident who said he had lived in the area for nearly 30 years described the situation as a longstanding problem that successive governments and authorities had failed to resolve.
He said the recent flooding had reached significant levels in some homes, damaging televisions, household belongings and other property residents had acquired over the years.
“Most of us, our rooms were flooded, even above my height level. Your TVs, the properties that you've invested in for years, are almost gone,” he said.
He added that several vehicles were also affected, with some residents reporting damage to their car engines.
Residents demand proper storm drains
The protesters are calling for the construction of larger and properly designed storm drains capable of carrying large volumes of rainwater.
They say the existing drainage system is inadequate to cope with the amount of water generated during heavy rainfall, resulting in flooding of homes and roads.
The residents also want the Assembly to develop a permanent solution rather than continue with temporary measures whenever flooding occurs.
Some of the protesters also raised concerns about a development project in the area, alleging that the reclamation and filling of a section of land may have affected the natural flow of water and contributed to the flooding.
Another resident claimed that a section which previously served as a channel for water had been filled and that construction had taken place on the reclaimed area.
He said residents were concerned about the potential impact of the development on drainage in the community.
The resident stressed, however, that he was not an engineer and was relying on concerns reportedly raised by engineers.
He said the matter had been brought to the attention of relevant state institutions, including the Auditor-General and other investigative authorities, for possible examination.
The protesters are demanding that the relevant authorities investigate the drainage situation and establish the causes of the recurring floods.
They also want authorities to determine whether developments in the area have affected existing waterways and drainage channels.
According to one of the residents, technical officials had previously warned that failure to address the drainage situation could result in continued flooding whenever it rains.
The protesters say the issue should be treated as a development concern rather than a political matter.
They stressed that after elections, their expectation is for elected representatives and the Assembly to focus on providing infrastructure and addressing challenges affecting residents.
Call for urgent intervention
Residents from communities including Santa Maria and Sowutuom say they have endured repeated flooding for years and are demanding immediate intervention before further rains cause more destruction.
They are calling for properly engineered and adequately sized drainage infrastructure, improved water channels and a comprehensive solution to prevent floodwaters from entering homes and damaging property.
The residents stated that they are prepared to continue pressing the authorities until a permanent solution is found to what they describe as one of the most persistent challenges facing communities in the municipality.
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