Residents of Cambodia, a residential community near Community 18 in Tema, have petitioned the Tema West Municipal Assembly to demolish a warehouse they allege has been built on portions of a major drainage channel, a situation which is contributing to persistent flooding.
The Cambodia Residents Association said the warehouse, constructed by a private investor near the Toyota Roundabout, had obstructed the main drainage channel serving the community, slowing the flow of stormwater.
Presenting the petition to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tema West, Ludwig Teye Tottimeh, last Thursday, the association’s spokesperson, Adib Saani, said the poor state of roads and drainage infrastructure was inconveniencing residents and affecting commercial activities.
He said the June 29 downpour had caused significant damage to homes and businesses, raising concerns about the potential impact of future heavy rainfall.
Petition
In the petition, the association identified the alleged obstruction near the Toyota Roundabout as a major contributor to the flooding.
“A primary cause of community flooding is the obstruction near the Toyota Roundabout, where owners of the Shopping Centre filled in portions of the main drainage channel to construct a warehouse,” it stated.
The residents urged the assembly to “prioritise human life over commercial interests by demolishing the warehouse and reclaiming this critical waterway.”
The association said drainage works initiated by the assembly and the Department of Urban Roads in 2019 had been abandoned before completion, leaving parts of the community without adequate infrastructure to channel stormwater away, calling for the completion of outstanding works, including the construction of a storm drain at Felicia Close and drainage diversions at Bugum-Chugu Street and Abankaba Street.
They said the drainage configuration near Felicia Close was problematic because a channel carrying water from the community met the main gutter at an angle of about 90 degrees, impeding water flow and potentially causing the main gutter to overflow into the community during heavy rainfall.
The petition also raised concerns about dredging activities by companies on the opposite bank of the main gutter.
The association alleged that the activities were widening the channel towards Cambodia while the companies reinforced their side, potentially threatening nearby homes.
The association also appealed for improvements to the community’s largely untarred roads, arguing that road construction and drainage improvements should be tackled together.
It expressed its willingness to support the completion of drainage infrastructure through community mobilisation, participation and, within its means, financial contributions.
Assessment
Responding to the petition, the Tema West MCE said the assembly had taken note of the concerns and had undertaken inspections following the June 29 flooding.
Mr Totimeh proposed a joint inspection involving assembly officials and community representatives to assess the affected areas and establish a common understanding of the challenges before determining appropriate interventions.
He said the assembly would propose a date for the assessment, after which possible solutions would be discussed, urging residents to collaborate with the assembly to address the challenges.
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