By Emmanuel Gamson
Effia (W/R), June 02, GNA – The Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) in the Western Region are desilting some major storm drains to prevent issues of flooding in the Municipality.
The move is to ensure the gutters were kept clean to ensure free flow of water as a way of addressing the perennial flooding problems within some parts of the Municipality.
Mr Abdul-Majeed Dokurgu, the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), told journalists after inspecting progress of work done so far said desilting chocked drains was a step towards reducing incidents of floods within the area during heavy downpours.
He said: “Some of the drains have been choked for about 12 years now to the extent that people did not even know we have gutters in these areas. But as an Assembly, we are poised to ensure these drains are clean for free flow of water in them.”
He expressed satisfaction of progress of work done and was confident that the flood issues in some parts of the Municipality would reduce.
According to the MCE, plans were far advanced to improve upon the entire drainage system in the Municipality to permanently solve the issues of flooding, “but in the meantime, we are working on seven major drains as a first step.”
Mr Dokurgu stated: “We are indeed preparing for the rains this time around, and we want the impacts of floods on lives and properties in the Municipality to be less.”
He asked the people to refrain from dumping refuse into the gutters, saying such actions undermined the Assembly’s efforts in ensuring flood incident-free communities for all.
“We are going to strictly enforce the Assembly’s sanitation by-laws and anyone found dumping refuse indiscriminately into the gutters will be made to face the full rigorous of the law,” he added.
Some residents who could not hide their joy for the intervention, expressed gratitude to the MCE and the team for the good work done.
Mr Collins Ofori, a resident of Effia, commended the Assembly for the intervention, and said the move would bring relief to them during the peak rainy season.
“I have lived here for about 20 years, and I can tell you that we have not had it easy with floods anytime it rained. So, we are grateful to the MCE and his team for desilting the gutters for us,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga/Linda Asante Agyei