Tensions Mount In Ga Central As Residents Protest To Demand Action On Poor Roads And Drainage Systems

Tensions have flared in the Ga Central Municipality of the Greater Accra Region due to resident protests over perennial flooding and deplorable road infrastructure.

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.