Ga Central residents protest over perennial flooding, demand urgent drainage works

Residents of the Ga Central Municipality, specifically the communities of Santa Maria and Sowutuom, have staged protests against recurring flooding and have demanded urgent and lasting action from the Municipal Assembly to solve the drainage challenges affecting their areas. For years, the persistent floods have inflicted considerable damage on residents' property, including homes, vehicles, and personal belongings.

Despite past attempts to rectify the situation, the issue has persisted, leaving the residents frustrated. During recent heavy rainfall, floodwaters inundated multiple homes, causing severe destruction to household items and vehicles. A long-time resident, who has lived in the area for nearly three decades, lamented that the floodwaters had reached alarming heights, damaging TVs, household items, and other personal possessions.

He emphasized that the recent flooding had submerged rooms up to his height level, partially destroying years of accumulated property. Furthermore, several vehicles sustained engine damage, adding to the residents' distress. The protesters are advocating for the construction of larger and well-designed storm drains that can effectively handle substantial amounts of rainwater.

They argue that the current drainage system is insufficient to manage the volume of water during heavy downpours, leading to flooding of properties and roads. Additionally, the Assembly is urged to devise a permanent solution, rather than relying on temporary fixes each time flooding occurs. Some protesters also voiced concerns about a recent development project in the area, suggesting that the reclamation and filling of land may have disrupted the natural water flow, thus exacerbating the flooding problem.

A resident, while not an engineer, cited reports from engineers who raised concerns about the potential impact of the development on the community's drainage system. He pointed out that the issue has been brought to the attention of relevant state institutions, including the Auditor-General and other investigating authorities, for further examination.

The protesters demand that these authorities investigate the drainage situation and determine whether recent developments have adversely affected existing waterways and drainage channels. They stress that technical officials have previously warned that failing to address the drainage issue could lead to continuous flooding during the rainy season.

The protesters maintain that this matter should be treated as a development concern, not a political issue. They insist that after the elections, elected representatives and the Assembly should prioritize providing infrastructure and addressing the challenges that residents face, rather than allowing the problem to remain a political subject.