The independent parliamentary hopeful for the Klottey Korle Constituency, Valentino Nii Noi Nortey has called on government to expedite work on the dredging of the Odaw River.
Nii Noi Nortey on Friday visited some of the worst flood-hit areas in Odawna, Asylum Down, Adabraka and its surroundings to offer his sympathy and to solicit firsthand information about the havoc caused by the rains.
A passionate Nii Noi bemoaned the situation where every year, authorities made promises to find lasting solution to the floods but forget as soon as the rains are over.
He said “We cannot continue to allow our people suffer when we can all come together as people, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic lineage, to solve this challenge which brings untoward hardship to the people of this area. The time to speak and act is now.”
Mr. Nortey, who was accompanied by some members of his campaign team to sympathize with families who were affected by the rains cautioned that there was the need for urgent and pragmatic interventions to curb future disasters.
He could not come to terms with the delay of government in dredging the Odaw which rose steadily when the rain started about 8 p.m., raising fears of a possible flood disaster as it happened on June 3, 2015 and claimed lives and property.
On Thursday evening Accra was hit by rains which caused flooding by morning in low areas of the Accra metropolis.
The former constituency Chairman insisted that the government must as a matter of urgency call for the dredging of the Odaw and initiate workable plans towards the prevention of disaster.
He stated that “Our plight as a people must be the plight of government”.
“How long is it going to take the government to take us out from this death-trap?” he quizzed calling on the government to immediately put measures in place to curb this ‘annual ritual’.
The aspiring MP said “It is disheartening that every year we have to suffer these calamities”.
“The Odaw dredging must be of priority to the nation. So why can’t we get a local contractor to dredge this immediately?” the parliamentary hopeful questioned.
He noted “This drainage thing is a very big problem” He noted that “It is a pity seeing what they have been facing every now and then when it rains.”
Nii Noi Nortey who is campaigning with the tag, Face of Hope, assured residence of his support at all times and preparedness to get the appropriate authorities in Government solve the perennial problem.
Residents were excited to see him in the constituency. They thanked him for the visit and wished him the best in the journey to give Klottey Korle a true voice in Parliament.
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