The government would need 54 million dollars to solve the perennial flooding in Accra during the raining season, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Solomon Offei Darko, has said. The amount excluded the cost of consultancy services.

Mr Darko said part of the funding for the project had been secured from various multi-lateral and bilateral sources, grants and concessionary loans leaving a balance of 22.2 million dollars.

He said the first drainage master plan for the city was prepared by the National Engineering Company (NEDECO), in 1962, revised in 1991 and further upgraded in 1995 after the capital experienced its worse floods. The MCE said 25 drains should be constructed or expanded to carry the large volume of rain water and expressed concern about unauthorised structures blocking waterways.

About 1,926 structures including residential buildings, kiosks, containers and walls obstructing the free flow of water had been identified in the Ablekuma, Okaikoi, Ayawaso and Osu sub-metropolitan areas.

Mr Darko said out of the number, about 1,433 did not have building permits from either the Works Department of AMA or the Town and Country Planning Department. Some of the structures could be salvaged if the owners could, "meet the cost of engineering" the MCE said.

Six areas, Matheko-Abossey Okai-Korle Lagoon, Dansoman-Mpoase-South Odorkor, Dansoman-Sahara-Chokor, Odaw-Dzorwulu-Awudome- Industrial Area, Nima and Teshie had been identified as the worse flood prone places. He stressed the need for a holistic approach to the problem involving the Tema Municipal, Ga and Akwapim South District Assemblies to deal with drainage development and management.