The Ministry of Works and Housing has tasked local governments, like as municipal district assemblies (MDAs), with enforcing bye-laws to avoid flooding in Accra.
According to sector Minister Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Local Government Act empowers district assemblies to guarantee that, for example, construction licenses are granted properly.
"Another important source of flooding in the capital city is haphazard construction of our neighbourhoods." When you are meant to build, you must go to the district assembly and get a building permit, which most individuals do not do.
...but, it is the responsibility of the district assemblies to ensure that permits are provided correctly and that they [the district assemblies] take immediate action when permits are not issued. Mr. Asenso-Boakye made the appeal on Sunday afternoon, when his ministry, in partnership with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), went on an inspection tour of flood-affected regions in Accra, following a heavy downpour on Saturday night.
The minister and his crew were were able to witness firsthand the effects of the deluge in Accra's flood-prone regions.
Odawna Garages in the Korle-Klottey Municipal Assembly, Iran Clinic at Adabraka near the Circle overhead bridge, Odawna, Circle, Adabraka, and Asylum Down were among the places visited.
Circle Neoplan Station, Osudoku, Pharma Nova, Tintara, and Tsaado in Teshie were the others.
While conceding that the size of the drains contributed to the Accra floods, the minister stated that the government has committed GHC450 million in the extension of drainage works in the capital city during the previous five years.
Drain depth, concrete lining, and boosting the capacity of the drains to convey stormwater to avert floods are among them, he added.
He was eager to point out, however, that flooding was caused by factors other than the capacity of the drains. "The first is the indiscriminate dumping of solid trash into drains," he explained, "and the second, which is equally crucial, is the unplanned growth of our towns."
He pointed out that the government had implemented flood mitigation measures in locations such as Odawna, which required extensive technical work.
Mr. Bernard Amu, Operations Manager of the Accra Sanitary Sewer and Storm Alleviation Project (ASSSAP), stated that the flooding in sections of Accra last Saturday would have been "quite dangerous" if not for the current dredging and siltation operations in the Odaw and Korle Lagoon.
He emphasized the importance of ongoing maintenance dredging and annual siltation of the Odaw and Korle in this regard.
Mr. Bernard Amu, Operations Manager of the Accra Sanitary Sewer and Storm Alleviation Project (ASSSAP), with Mr. Asenso-Boakye
He said dredging was a continual effort and that bye-laws needed to be enforced to prevent homeowners from dropping trash down the drains.
He also emphasized the importance of increasing locals' education about the importance of keeping their surroundings clean along riverbanks.