June 7, 2013

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah, on Wednesday said a major challenge confronting the constituency was the poor drainage system which needs urgent attention to avert any future disaster.

Justice Joe Appiah said this while touring some areas in the constituency, which include Sakaman, Mallam Market, Otaten, Tweneboa and Busia Link to inspect the drainage systems there.

He was accompanied by some officials from the Department of Urban Roads, the Hydrology Department of the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing, Assembly Members and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Executive.

Mr Joe Appiah stressed that the areas toured needed storm drains to allow the free flow of water during the raining season.

“Ablekuma North is a low-lying area and it’s prone to flood, putting the lives and properties of residents at risk, especially during the rainy season,” he said.

Mr Joe Appiah indicated that even though he did a lot during his first term as MP, there was still the need to do more and promised to do his best to liaise with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the relevant Government Agencies to improve the drainage systems, among other challenges confronting the people in the area.

In a related development, some victims of the fire disaster, which occurred at the Mallam Market about eight months ago, have repeated an appeal to the Government to come to their aid.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the side line of the MP’s tour, one of the victims, Ms Dorothy Ennin, a wholesale dealer in cosmetics and wigs, said she lost everything in her shop at the market worth about GH¢ 50,000.

According to Ms Ennin, a mother of three, the disaster put her in a very difficult and embarrassing situation.

She said her bankers and other creditors are on her back with some even taking her to court despite her very difficult financial challenges.
GNA