As part of measures to avert floods ahead of the rainy season, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Dr Alfred OKo Vanderpuije has begun clearing drainage channels in the metropolis.

This development embarked on by the AMA was to put emergency flood prevention measures in place, particularly the clearing of choked drains.

Over a hundred people perished when the GOIL petrol station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle - where they were seeking shelter during a heavy downpour in June 3, 2015, amidst heavy floods.

Read more: How Accra looks after last night’s disaster

The AMA boss' entourage inspected drains behind the Paloma Hotel at Nima, drains at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, South Kaneshie, Graphic Road and the Korle Lagoon.

See also: Accra floods after hours of heavy rains

Some drain engineers were busily clearing sand and other waste materials from drainage channels when the AMA visited the areas.

He explained that the Assembly, was committed to providing leadership to motivate members of the general public to accept the exercise as national exercise devoid of partisanship.

Read more: Accra floods and fire disaster death toll hits 200

He said cleanliness was a collective responsibility and the Assembly would not relent in assisting residents with logistics to clean their environment and ensure a healthy living in the metropolis.

Conti project

A credit facility of US$663,299,497 sourced by the Government of Ghana from the Export Import Bank of the United States of America (EXIM Bank) and Standard Chartered Bank to dredge the Korle lagoon is expected to end by June, 2016.

Nine major drainage basins in the Accra Metropolis, namely Odaw, Lafa, Chemu, Kpeshie, Osu Klottey, Morkwei, La, Songor and Korle Lagoon, will see a facelift, under the ‘Construction of the Accra Sanitary Sewerage  and Storm Drainage Alleviation project, popularly referred to as the Conti Project.