Accra Floods: AMA to Embark on Major Decongestion — Alfred Asiedu Adjei Speaks
Assemblyman for Avenor Electoral Area and Former Presiding Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Hon. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, popularly known as Paa Joe, has commented on the recent floods that hit parts of Kwame Nkrumah Circle and Avenor following heavy downpours over the weekend.
Speaking on Kessben TV’s Maakye Show, he attributed Avenor’s persistent flood issues to its geographical location. “Avenor is a flood-prone area due to its location. It lies on a lowland between two mountains. Anytime we enter the rainy season, flooding becomes inevitable,” he said.
Paa Joe, however, praised the efforts of government and NGOs in helping reduce the impact of flooding in recent times. He noted that secondary drains constructed through the help of an NGO have helped redirect water into the main Odaw River. Additionally, he acknowledged the government’s timely dredging of the Odaw River prior to the rains, describing it as a major contributor to the relatively reduced flooding in the area this year.
Speaking about measures taken to protect communities near the Odaw River, he disclosed that over the past two years, squatters and unauthorized structures within 30 to 50 feet of the river were cleared. He said the exercise was done with education and in some cases, compensation. “We started educating and clearing people who settled close to the Odaw two years ago. Some of them were compensated, and we had to move them for public safety,” he stated.
On the issue of the AMA’s upcoming decongestion exercise in the Central Business District, Paa Joe pointed out that this is not the first of its kind, but emphasized that past efforts lacked lasting results. “This is not the first time AMA is embarking on a decongestion exercise. Others have done it in the past, but we’ve seen that the traders always return,” he said. He called for stronger and more consistent enforcement this time around.
He appealed to the media to support the decongestion initiative rather than undermine it by questioning where affected traders should go. According to him, some of these traders even use their sheds as warehouses but still occupy unauthorized street spaces. “All stakeholders will be involved, and even the Mayor himself will be on the ground. There will be no political interference,” he said, adding that AMA officers found compromising during the exercise will not be spared.
Paa Joe concluded with a call to traditional leaders to support the exercise for the broader beautification of Accra. He also touched on the planned relocation of traders, stating that many market sheds in Accra are currently unoccupied. He said a market audit will soon be conducted to determine suitable locations for displaced traders.
“There are empty sheds in many markets. We’ll conduct a market audit to help with relocation. But traders must understand that paying a levy does not give you the right to sell in unauthorized places,” he cautioned.
By: Gifty Bediako Yamoah
