Mfantseman MCE Inspects Mankessim Drain Desilting Works, Warns Against Illegal Waste Dumping

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Mfantseman Municipality, Hon. Eric Stanley Acquah (Mfantseman KK), has inspected the ongoing drain desilting exercise in Mankessim, reaffirming the Assembly’s commitment to tackling flooding and improving sanitation across the municipality.

The visit, which took place on the second day of the desilting exercise, formed part of efforts to assess the progress of the project and encourage residents to support the government’s environmental sanitation agenda.

Addressing the media during the inspection, Hon. Acquah stressed that President John Dramani Mahama’s “Reset Agenda” is a shared responsibility that requires the active participation of every resident.

He warned that the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with the Member of Parliament, NADMO, Security Agencies and the contracted dredging company, would take firm action against individuals who continue to dump refuse into gutters and drainage channels despite repeated warnings.

According to the MCE, a dedicated monitoring team has been established to conduct continuous surveillance of drainage systems across the municipality. The team will provide regular reports on residents’ activities to ensure strict compliance with sanitation regulations.

“We cannot invest public resources into clearing drains only for some people to turn them into refuse dumps again. Anyone who disregards the Assembly’s directives will face the appropriate sanctions,” he cautioned.

Speaking to NewsAfricaGhana, the contractor overseeing the project, Ing. Mohammed Awal, Chief Executive Officer of Mohd-Awal Investment Ltd, commended President John Dramani Mahama for initiating the nationwide desilting exercise aimed at reducing perennial flooding.

He explained that the task has been particularly challenging because many drains and waterways within the Mfantseman Municipality, especially in Mankessim, have been heavily silted and clogged with waste, preventing the free flow of water and increasing the risk of flooding.

Ing. Awal noted that the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage systems remains one of the municipality’s biggest environmental challenges.

He called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country to intensify public education and enforcement measures to discourage the practice, warning that recent floods have already destroyed several homes and properties.

Despite the challenges, he assured residents that Molawal Construction Ltd is committed to delivering quality work to ensure the drains are restored to full capacity.

Meanwhile, the Mfantseman Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Christian Abeiku Yankson, announced that the Assembly would not hesitate to demolish buildings and structures obstructing waterways.

He urged residents to report weak, abandoned or structurally unsafe buildings to NADMO to prevent potential disasters, particularly during the peak of the rainy season.

The ongoing desilting exercise forms part of broader flood prevention and environmental sanitation efforts aimed at protecting lives, safeguarding property and improving public health throughout the Mfantseman Municipality.