Ga Central residents appeal for improved drainage after devastating floods

Residents of Santa Maria, Auntie Eku, Lane Five, and other surrounding communities in the Ga Central Municipality are appealing to the Government and the Ga Central Municipal Assembly to urgently construct new drainage systems and rehabilitate existing gutters to prevent future flooding.

The appeal comes after days of heavy rains left several homes and businesses submerged, displaced families, destroyed property, and disrupted economic activities in the area.

“The water keeps coming back every year”
Santa Maria and its surrounding communities have been among the worst-hit areas in Ga Central during periods of intense rainfall. Residents say the floods are no longer seasonal surprises but a recurring disaster.

Speaking to our news team, some residents expressed frustration over what they described as years of neglect, inadequate drainage infrastructure, choked gutters, and overflowing stormwater channels.

“Every time it rains heavily, we lose our things. Our children cannot go to school, and our shops close. The situation has become unbearable,” one resident in Lane Five said. “We are begging the government to act before the next rains come.”

Another resident in Auntie Eku added: “The gutters are too small and they are full of sand and rubbish. When the rain comes, the water has nowhere to go except into our rooms.”

Key demands from residents
The affected communities are calling for immediate and long-term interventions to address the perennial flooding.

Their key demands include:
1. Construction of new, larger drainage systems in flood-prone areas
2. Rehabilitation of existing gutters that have broken down or become too narrow
3. Regular desilting of drains to remove silt and debris
4. Stricter enforcement against indiscriminate dumping of refuse into gutters and waterways
5. Removal of structures obstructing waterways to allow free flow of stormwater

Residents believe that combining infrastructure expansion with proper sanitation enforcement will significantly reduce flooding in the municipality.

Call for urgent government response
The residents say they are hopeful that the Government and the Ga Central Municipal Assembly will respond swiftly to their concerns.

“We pay our taxes. We vote. All we are asking for is that our lives and properties be protected,” a trader at Santa Maria market said. “If nothing is done, the next rain will bring the same story.”

Flooding remains a major challenge for several low-lying communities in Greater Accra during the rainy season. Experts have consistently cited poor drainage, rapid urbanization, and poor waste management as key contributors.

With the rainy season still ongoing, residents of Ga Central say they cannot afford another disaster and are urging authorities to prioritize drainage works in the 2026 budget and development plans.

“We don’t want relief items after the flood,” another resident stated. “We want drains that will stop the flood from happening in the first place.”