The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kpandai, Haruna Abdul-Karim, has ordered the removal of structures obstructing watercourses and called for a larger bridge to address recurring flooding in the town.
The directive followed flooding on September 23, 2026, which submerged parts of the road around the Amdaway Filling Station and the Kpandai Yam Market, disrupting movement and affecting businesses.
Mr Abdul-Karim has appealed to the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Urban Roads Department to support the expansion of the bridge to resolve the perennial incidence of flooding in the area.
He said the intervention was necessary to protect lives and property and keep the road accessible during the rainy season.
Mr Abdul-Karim said the bridge's capacity had been a concern since its construction in 2018, when he was the assembly member for Kpandai Central.
“Today, I feel vindicated because I raised these concerns during construction, but the leadership at the time ignored my call for a bigger bridge,” he said.
The flooding affected the filling station and nearby shops, disrupting commercial activities and threatening the livelihoods of business operators.
A resident, Madam Rebecca Katrapor, said the annual flooding had repeatedly brought daily activities to a standstill whenever there was a heavy downpour.
“We have been battling with this flooding every year whenever there is a heavy downpour.
The bridge is too small to accommodate the volume of water. As you can see, even on working days, everything comes to a standstill. We cannot go to the market, children cannot cross to school and vehicles cannot move,” she said.
She appealed to the authorities to expand the bridge to allow water to flow freely during heavy rainfall and prevent future disruption.
Mr Abdul-Karim said the district assembly would no longer tolerate the construction of shops and other structures along watercourses.
Submerged shops in floodwaters
He said he had directed district planning officers, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and district engineers to serve notices on owners of structures built on watercourses for their removal.
According to him, the assembly could not continue spending public funds to address flooding when some of the causes could be prevented through responsible environmental practices and compliance with planning regulations.
He also warned residents against dumping refuse into gutters, saying the practice obstructed water flow and increased the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
The assembly, he said, would intensify enforcement of its sanitation by-laws to improve environmental sanitation and keep drains and waterways clear.
The Assembly Member for the Kpandai West Electoral Area, Issahaq Sulemana Ganiwu, backed the decision to remove structures obstructing watercourses and urged residents to cooperate with the assembly's efforts.
He said more rain was expected in the coming weeks and called on residents to work together to minimise the effects of flooding on households, businesses and road users.
