The Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly has disclosed that it is constructing storm drains to help resolve the rampant traffic gridlocks that often characterise the Mallam-Weija Highway anytime it rains.
The Municipal Engineer, Dr Daniel Sowah, told the host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, on Citi FM that the reports suggesting that the situation may have been exacerbated by the activities of sand winners are not accurate.
He explained that the situation is worsened by erosion that washes down sediments from the Broadcasting area all the way down to the SCC and Old Barrier areas.
Dr. Sowah said the issue has already been tabled before the Greater Accra Regional Minister designate, Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus Glover, who called for a roundtable discussion to find a solution to the problem.
“It is an issue that we are working to find solutions to it and the Regional Minister designate invited us to come and have a roundtable discussion on finding solutions to the challenge
“The stream that discharges water around that area, we realised that this is a stream that starts from the Broadcasting area and carries water from the upstream all the way to the SCC and Old Barrier area. It is not a result of sand winning but erosion from upstream.”
“There are gutters but not enough and we are now constructing a storm drain at Baba Dogo to contain the water, and it will lead the water to the Sunda Factory area and around the Old Melcom, we are also working on another drain to help with the situation,” the municipal engineer added.
Commuters were left stranded after a downpour around 4 pm on Monday, May 13. The vehicular traffic continued into Tuesday morning.
Residents had to navigate through the waters to reach their homes.
The traffic situation was a result of both sides of the road being obstructed by silt washed onto the road by the rain, and further exacerbated by several vehicles that had broken down along the stretch.