Accra, Ghana, February 18, 2019//-The Odaw River in Accra, Ghana which overflowed partly caused the June 3, 2015 disaster, is choked again without any effort by the authorities to dredge it.
After the disaster which claimed over 159 lives, maiming several people as well as destroying properties worth millions of Ghana cedis, river was dredged by the previous government.
Five years down the lane, the same river is choked and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Akufo-led government are yet to take action.
The Odaw River which flows from the Abokobi and Adjankote hills through Ashongman, Atomic Energy, West Legon, Achimota, Alajo, Avenor and Agbogbloshie before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean through the Korle Lagoon, is a sight of people squatting along the banks of the river to defecate into it.
When African Eye Report visited the banks of the river near the Odawna market at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, business operators helplessly expressed worry about the choking of the river and purging smell it oozes.
One of the traders, Yaw Obeng, said: “We are worried that the river will overflow its banks again if it is not dredged anytime soon”.
Also, the river is notoriety for filth. It has been the receptacle for volumes of waste associated with the city, which has been a dent on the image of capital city, Accra.
Environmental campaigners have warned that the life of the river is at risk if the authorities do not take immediate action to safe the dying river.
Additionally, the traders are therefore calling on the AMA and the government to dredge the river to avert the upcoming disaster.
African Eye Report
