News:
June 8, 2015
Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko has launched a scathing attack on the Mahama led administration for always having its order of priority wrong.
According him, his verdict and assertion of the government is evidenced in the government deciding to rather construct a multi- million interchange at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle instead of undertaking a major construction of storm drains in Accra.
He believes building storm drains in Accra would stop the perennial flooding of the capital city during rainy season would have averted the needless loss of over 100 lives in last Wednesday heavy down pour coupled with the fire outbreak.
Ghana recorded its deadliest flood disaster last Wednesday, June 3, when the city got flooded and a fire explosion occurred at the Goil filling station near Kwame Nkrumah circle.
As of last Friday, 150 dead bodies had been found. At the close of the search and rescue efforts which ended at 6 p.m. Sunday, 10 more bodies had been found.
Contributing to a discussion on the aftermath of the disaster on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Show Monday, Hon. Kyeremanteng Agyarko stated that though he was not opposed to the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Inter-change, that project could have been stayed for a proper drainage system to be constructed.
“Let no one say that I am against the construction of the interchange, I think the government could have put that on hold since there was no pressing need for that, and rather build the drains ……here we are lamenting and grieving over the death of our compatriots, it could have been avoided this government must have its priorities right” he said.
In 2013, the Government of Ghana and the Conti Group of Companies of the United States of America signed a US$660 million agreement for the drainage and sewage project.
Known as the Accra Sanitation, Sewer and Storm-Water Drainage Alleviation Project, experts believed that the project would have controlled the perennial flooding as well as the sanitation challenges of Accra.
The Parliament of Ghana consequently approved the loan facilities, paving way for President John Mahama to break grounds for commencement of work, however almost three years after; the Finance Minister Seth Terkper has said the funds are yet to hit government accounts.
He disclosed that disbursement of the funds by the US Exim Bank has stalled because of variations made to the original project plan and scope.
Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh