A taxi driver has faced a perilous situation after his vehicle unexpectedly veered off its intended path and ended up in the Odaw River at Alajo on Friday September 15.
According to an eyewitness, the taxi driver was attempting to navigate a curve toward a nearby car wash.
“The driver was trying to turn at the washing bay; unfortunately, he ended up in the Odaw River at Alajo,” the witness explained.
Fortunately, quick action was taken, and the driver was safely rescued from the accident site. “So far, the driver has been successfully removed,” the witness added.
The Odaw River, initially channelized into a canal to mitigate recurring floods in parts of Accra, has struggled to contain even minor showers in recent times.
The river’s course stretches from the Abokobi and Adjankote hills through various areas like Ashongman, Atomic Energy area, West Legon, Achimota, Alajo, Avenor, and Agbogbloshie before reaching the Atlantic Ocean through the Korle Lagoon, draining the Accra metropolis.
However, this essential service is hindered due to the excessive accumulation of garbage within the river.
Despite government efforts to address this issue through costly dredging, the problem persists. Scrap dealers, traders, mechanics, and squatters residing along the riverbanks worsen the situation by indiscriminately dumping various forms of waste into the river.
The Odaw River has sadly turned into not only a dumping site for solid waste but also a receptacle for human waste, as some individuals openly defecate along its banks, even during daylight hours.