The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has appealed to residents within the metropolis to help apprehend individuals who dump waste into drains, citing human activities as a major driver of the perennial flooding.
Responding to ongoing complaints about the situation, AMA Public Relations Officer Gilbert Nii Ankrah stated that most flooding incidents in Accra during rainfall are caused by human behavior.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr. Ankrah called on Ghanaians to remain vigilant.
He urged the public to assist both the government and the AMA in clamping down on perpetrators who are frequently caught on camera throwing garbage into gutters whenever it rains.
According to Mr. Ankrah, providing information and evidence is the only way to ensure such individuals are punished. This, he noted, would serve as a deterrent to others and ultimately help curb the flooding.
“People are always caught on camera throwing garbage into gutters anytime it rains,” he said. “We need the public’s help to identify and report these perpetrators so they can be arrested and prosecuted.”
While emphasizing the human element, Mr. Ankrah stated that the AMA has taken proactive steps, such as desilting drains, and noted that the National Sanitation exercise has also helped.
However, he highlighted that infrastructure upgrades are equally critical. Due to the impacts of climate change and rapid urban development, flooding has increased, making it vital to expand and re-engineer the city’s drainage systems. He added that some of these re-engineering works are already underway.
Nevertheless, Mr. Ankrah stressed that the human factors contributing to the crisis must be tackled head-on to prevent the frequent floods seen during the rainy season. To achieve this, the Assembly is relying heavily on community watchdog efforts.
“When it comes to enforcement, the AMA cannot do it alone. We encourage the public to assist us. Our eyes cannot be everywhere, and so we appeal to the public to assist us. Since the current Mayor took over, he has established the sanitation court, and we have prosecuted over 100 persons for various sanitation offences. Aside from our enforcement operations, we have also introduced a reward system where individuals will be given GH₵500 if they provide evidence of individuals dumping waste in our drains or engaging in other sanitation offences.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
