The Information Services Department (ISD) as part of its mandate to inform and educate the public on government policies, programs and activities in collaboration with GARID under the Ministry of Works and Housing has organised a three-week Public Education Campaign on the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project which works to improve flood risk and solid waste management in the Odaw River basin and improve access to basic infrastructure and services in the targeted flood prone low-income communities in the Greater Accra Region.  

The Campaign aims to address and prevent the recurring flooding challenges ahead of the rainy season in the Municipality. To ensure the effective dissemination of information, the Information Services Department (ISD) of the Ga West Municipal Assembly engaged various institutions within the municipality. The outreach included visits to Churches, Mosques and Community Information Centers (CICs).

Speaking at the Church of Christ at Amasaman on Sunday, the Ga West Municipal Information Officer, Madam Rachel Sarpong, urged the congregation to avoid disposing of wastes in gutters and drains which ends up choking the gutters and causing floods. She advised the congregation to dump refuse in dustbins or at designated dumping sites.

Daniel Sorgah, a Principal Information Officer educated members of the Amasaman Central Mosque on the importance of upholding cleanliness as part of their religious duties. He further encouraged them to refrain from dumping waste into gutters or drains. He further told them to desist from building in waterways as it will block the free flow of water into drains and cause flooding and to also secure permits from the Municipal Church Assembly before embarking on any construction projects.

Institutions visited are Church of Christ Amasaman, The Pentecost Church Mercy Temple Amasaman, The Methodist of Ghana Haggai Siciety Amasaman, Presbyterian Church Amasaman, Amasaman Central Mosque, Kotoku Central Mosque, Sarpeiman Central Mosque, Medie Central Mosque, Manhyean Cental Ayikan Doblo, Doblo Gonno, Onyansana, Kutunse and Kotoku Community Information Centers.

If residents in the Municipality works together with the Assembly by keeping the environment clean and stop dumping refuse in drains and building in water ways, there will be less or no flooding in our communities.

SOURCE: RACHEL SARPONG, ISD GWMA

                 DORCAS ASANTEWAA OSEI, ISD GWMA