Residents of Kenkey Factory, a suburb of Koforidua in the Eastern region, are calling for the construction of sustainable drainage systems and wider culverts to address recurring flooding in the area.
According to them, partial desilting works undertaken by contractors of the new China Mall project have been inadequate and have failed to provide a lasting solution to the flooding situation.
The Kenkey Factory township and its surrounding areas were previously characterized by natural streams that efficiently carried rainwater away from the settlement.
However residents say the ongoing construction of the new China Mall has obstructed these natural waterways and encroached on a designated retention pond area.
The retention pond was originally meant to collect and temporarily store rainwater and runoff, helping to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall.
With that space now occupied by the mall development, the existing culverts and drainage systems are now overwhelmed whenever it rains, resulting in frequent flooding of homes and businesses.
In May last month the area for the first time flooded homes and business areas.
Samuel Okai who for years operated a tailoring business in the area says the recent floods have severely affected his livelihood, leading to significant losses.
“Materials worth millions of cedis were destroyed. I couldn’t dry them because they were stained by the floodwater. In the end, I had no choice but to burn them and move on. The authorities should expand the drains to prevent this from happening again.”
Other residents also say they have suffered damage to their properties due to the recurring floods.
They are therefore calling on the developers of the China Mall to construct larger culverts and improve the drainage network to provide a lasting solution.
Mercy Agyeman narrated “It was only recently that some young men informed us that the Chinese contractors had narrowed the waterway, and that is when our problems began. During one of the floods, a woman was trapped in her room. No one knew she was inside until her children returned home later that night. She was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. The authorities should improve the drainage system and construct wider culverts.”
Another resident added “those culverts needs to be opened to a low for free flow of the waters natural course.”
But there are also attitudinal challenges to deal with, as some drains are choked with plastic waste, worsening the situation.
Although the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Awatey, directed that work on the project be suspended on May 22nd to allow for proper drainage interventions.
“They must stop work, we cannot allow them to continue when citizens lives are in danger, we have asked them to construct a proper drainage system”
Co-developer of the China Mall Manfred agreed” We have listened to the regional minister, we would construct the drainage systems ”
Construction activities have continued by the China mall developers in defiance of the directive.
A team led by the Eastern Region National Security Coordinator, Francis Annoh Dompreh, have since cordoned off the China mall site and is demanding that the developers comply with the directive and address the drainage concerns.
“This place is now a security zone, we have cordone it off until the constructors do what is right. We cannot allow them to continue construction when the right things have not been done. No worker should appear here, else we would arrest them. The engineers from urban roads and other experts have told them what to do already. Their refusal to do the right thing is flouting the laws of our country, we would not tolerate this.”
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