The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Municipal Director for Ga East, Seth Kofi Osei Kissi, has responded to Dome Parakou Estate residents’ decision to block the area’s highways.
On Thursday, June 13, 2024, people blocked the area’s roads due to an inadequate drainage system, which they believe leaves them vulnerable whenever it rains.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the NADMO official said the action by the residents was not justified.
He revealed that he was compelled to call the police for assistance, and it took more than two hours to bring the situation under control.
He added that it needed the experience of a single NADMO official to disperse and manage the issue.
He explained that the encroaches had been warned that the rains will be heavy this year and that they should leave because when it rains, it floods up to window level, but they still live there.
“Who are the people who have blocked the roads? These are the same individuals that constructed structures along the local waterways. Three human steps from the waterways will lead you to their buildings. When it rains, the water rises over window levels and into their roims. We advised them to leave the area, but they refused.
We have asked them multiple times to move and have even advised them that the rains will be strong this year and that they should move because water floods their rooms whenever it rains. The Ga East Assembly and Okaikwei North share boundaries in the area, therefore we both went there to ask them to go and stay with other relatives until the rains stop.
NADMO has advised that the assembly consider removing the facilities because they pose a threat to the neighbourhood because they are located near waterways. However, the assembly informed us that they did not have the legal authority to move the structures. So NADMO is waiting for the assembly to demolish the structures. We should be honest about things. If we do not demolish these structures, we will continue to wutness floods even when it drizzles.”
He continued, “It is not my desire to move or demolish these structures, but the owners will agree with me that their structures are obstructing the waterways and posing a challenge whenever it rains. We must apply the law, and the public must recognise that we have a significant problem. They have encroached to the point where previously flood-prone dwellings now flood everytime it rains.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
