MPs Appeal For Funds For Sanitation In Accra

Mr. Francis Addai, the ranking Member of Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment Science and Technology, has asked government to expedite action on the release of the Conti Project loan facility.

He made the call when members of the Parliamentary Select Committee together with officials of Accra Metropolitan Assembly, including the Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, visited some areas that were mostly affected by flooding on January 31, this year, in Accra.

Areas visited by the entourage included Obetsebi Lamptey Circle, Korle Lagoon dredging site and a newly constructed storm drain at Sakaman, to familiarise themselves with the situation there, to enable them to find ways of minimising any such reoccurrence.

Mr. Addai said the Conti Project was a main mitigating intervention, which has unnecessarily been delayed, resulting in flooding that affected the people.

The 500 million dollar Conti Project, dubbed: “The Accra Sanitation, Sewer and Storm-water Drainage Alleviation Project”, is expected to tackle flooding in the city, which results in sanitation and environmental challenges.

The project that is expected to be carried out in three different stages, would include desilting, and dredging of water bodies, and building of major storm drains.

Mr. Addai said though the agreement on the project was signed in 2012, and parliament gave approval in 2013, it has become a matter of great concern when a single civic work has not been executed.

He urged the Ministries of Finance, Water, Works and Housing, and Local Government and Rural Development, to expedite action to secure the loan for the project.

Mr.Edem Asimah, the Chairman of the Committee, has advised residents of the city to avoid indiscriminate disposal of waste.

He asked the AMA to continue with the mitigating measures of desilting the drains, especially before the raining season sets in, to reduce the impact of flooding.

Mr. Vanderpuije explained to the Committee measures taken by the AMA to mitigate the perennial flooding in the city.

He said the assembly has realised the need for the provision of more waste bins to households to improve waste collection, and prevent disposal of refuse into the open drains.

Mr. Vanderpuije said the Assembly has constructed storm drains in some flood prone areas to mitigate flooding, and assured the Committee that the AMA would continue to do its best to avert flooding until the Conti Project fund was released for work to start.