The President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, Ing. Dr Kwame Agyeman Boakye, has urged city authorities to fully develop water retention ponds in Accra to help reduce the incidence of flooding.

Such ponds, he explained, would hold floodwater that has been causing havoc in the city over the years whenever it rains.

Ing. Dr Agyeman expressed regret that, “most of the areas reserved as flood retention areas have been sold out for residential condominiums, apartments and concrete have taken over.”

Speaking on the topic: “Is Accra Engineered?” on 3FM’s Community Connect Monday, he said flooding is a natural phenomenon and shows very little respect for things that occupy its path, adding “we need to have adequate drainage structures within community for the sustainability of buildings and property.”

Ing. Dr Agyeman underscored the need for institutions city authorities to make enforcement a key feature in their activities to ensure that residents do litter indiscriminately.

About 160 people died in Accra last year June as a result of flooding and fire outbreak at a Goil fuel station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. A year on, not much has been done to prevent such occurrence as parts of the city continue to flood whenever it rains.

Ing. Dr Agyeman mentioned the Alajo drain as one of the major engineering water retention facility, adding “that must be replicated in other forms across the city.”

He called for adequate data to plan the city, and urged key institutions like the Ghana Meteorological Agency, to be properly funded so that they pay up subscription at all times, “so they can provide adequate and accurate data on rainfall data.”

Ing. Dr Agyeman said the Ghana Institution of Engineers will soon come out with the Accra floods Bible which will have all the recommendations made over the years.

“This will contain what causes the floods, what needs to be done in terms of the engineering structures to help authorities rise up to the increasing needs of the ever growing city such as Accra.

“We should avoid knee-jerk reactions, sustain the process of developing effective flood management systems if we want to overcome the problems we have today.”

Gideon Sackitey| 3news.com| Ghana