Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Weija-Gbawe Municipality, Patrick K.B Kumor has revealed that his outfit, together with other stakeholders, has put in place measures to dredge the Weija Dam.
This initiative, he says, was necessitated by the devastating impact of the spillage of the Weija Dam, which flooded several communities within the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The spillage, according to reports, was caused by torrential rains, which contributed to the water level in the dam rising above its maximum level of 46 feet to 48 feet.
In the aftermath of the spillage, thousands of residents of Oblogo, Tetegu, Weija, and Ashalaja were displaced, and several properties were destroyed.
In an interview with an Accra-based media house, JoyNews, Mr K.B Kumor mentioned that dredging the Dam filled with silt and debris, will reduce the impact of flooding within the catchment area of the dam.
“We will start some major dredging within the reservoir. The dam canal contains a lot of water which will not necessitate Ghana Water to open to flood the communities while the Assembly is also trying to partner with some individuals to get the canal also dredged,” he stated.
The MCE also intimated that several unauthorised structures blacking waterways have been earmarked for demolition.
Mr. K.B Kumor said the demolishing of these structures built on waterways will help maintain buffers at the Weija Dam to contain water whenever there is spillage.
“Those structures that are also dotted along those areas which have already been marked for demolition, we have no choice than to move in to pull those structures down,” he said.
He further asserted that persons whose building will be affected during the demolishing exercise will not be compensated.
According to him, none of the residents on those sites had a permit to build there.
Source: The Independent Ghana