The Upper East Regional Director of the Urban Roads Department, Engineer Peter Amoako has expressed concern over the encroachment of roads by property owners in the region. According to him, this practice has a negative impact on the region’s urban drainage system, which in turn contributes to floods.
The engineer explained that road networks in urban areas include not only the carriageway but also the sidewalks and drainage channels. He said that when house owners encroach onto these spaces, they narrow the drainage channels and prevent the free flow of rainwater, which leads to floods during heavy rainfall.
“The road is meant to provide drains to carry water away so when you encroach and you think you are comfortable with the encroachment, you will suffer and people upstream will also suffer. When there is a flood, will you be satisfied with the temporal relief of blankets, rice, and cups?”
Mr. Amoako, therefore, called on property owners to desist from encroaching onto the roads and ensure that proper drainage channels are maintained to prevent flooding. He also entreated land owners to cooperate with planners of the assemblies to open up the town roads for easy access, especially in the event of emergencies.
He spoke to the media during a town hall meeting held in Bolgatanga to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Ghana Institute of Architects.
The town hall meeting brought together architects, representatives of the assemblies, chiefs, and the media. The 60th anniversary celebration of the Ghana Institute of Architects is under the theme “Architects and the Community”.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga|Ghana
