The recent flooding in some areas
in the capital city (Accra) raised a lot of concerns and issues regarding the
plan of the city. There have been arguments about the approval of buildings situated
on water ways, the unavailability of proper drainage systems and the likes.
However the issue of flooding is perhaps by now known by most people as an
annual ritual; where experts are invited to deliberate on what the causes are,
what the solutions are and individuals are also invited to share their grievances
and losses.
It seems to have become a ritual
where whenever the floods occur we as a nation make a whole lot of noise about the
need to curb this situation yet do nothing.
The question on floor now then is what has been done ‘this time’ to
ensure we don’t experience such tragedy again. We are tired of having to hear
people always proclaim the solutions to this problem but at the end the rains
come and the floods occur again. It always amazes me how Ghanaians seem to
suddenly be awakened to the fact that filth and improper situation of
structures (especially kiosks) goes a
long way to cause the floods yet these same Ghanaians criticize the Accra
Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) when they take steps to curb the situation. The
recent demolishing of kiosks situated at improper places at the Kwame Nkrumah circle
by the AMA, i would say is a bold step by the AMA towards solving situation. It
is however imperative to know that this is not the first time such a step has
been taken. My problem has always been why the AMA has to wait until tragedies
happen before taking such bold steps.
Prevention we know is better than cure so
AMA shouldn’t wait until the floods which might have perhaps aggrieved owners
of such kiosks - come before finally standing firm to evacuate them adding to
their grief. So it’s not only about the steps taken, but the timing of such
steps. Also I think the AMA falls short in making sure such steps are
maintained. This is to say that sooner or later we find these people or
different people setting up their kiosks at these same places, and then the
whole cycle begins again. There also is the case where the evacuated kiosks are
moved from one unauthorized site to the other.
We as Ghanaians have to be ready
to follow up on issues as such until we are convinced the problem is solved.
Because now that the rains are gone the issues about flood seem to have died
out of the media waiting for it to happen again and then sparks a whole lot of
noise from the media. I believe now is the time we ought to find out from those
in charge what exactly has been done to curb the situation and not wait for the
rains to begin again.
By: Julius Ofori Boadu (JOB)
(juliusboadu@gmail.com)
Twitter: @CwesiOfori
By: Julius Ofori Boadu (JOB)
(juliusboadu@gmail.com)
Twitter: @CwesiOfori
