The Ministry of Works and Housing has embarked on the replacement of the weak concrete side slabs of the Nima drain and educate the residents against the dumping of refuse or solid waste into the drain.

A long-term solution is being considered by the ministry for general replacement of the existing weakened trapezoidal drain with a 'rectangular reinforced concrete drain to have a higher carrying capacity with resistance to earth pressures from buildings on the banks of the drain'.

Mr Yaw Barimah, Minister of Works and Housing was on Tuesday answering questions in Parliament when Dr William Boakye Akoto, NPP- Birim North on behalf of Nii Adu Daku Mante, NPP- Klottey Korle.

The member wanted to know what remedial steps the Ministry has put in place to prevent the continuous damage by floods to the concrete walls of the drain that carries the Nima stream into the Odaw river at Kwame Nkrumah Circle through Asylum Down in Accra.

The Minister said the Hydrological Services department of the Ministry has produced a design for replacement of the marginally reinforced concrete sidewalls.

The Accra Metropolitan Roads Department is executing the re-construction of the damaged sidewalls according to the design and specifications produced.

Mr Barimah said the drain was constructed about 30 years ago and the side-wall has thus been weakened with time while it carries a considerable volume of solid waste that tends to block the inlets to the underground section of the drain leading to backwater and exertion of pressure on the already weakened side slabs.

He said the erection of buildings on the banks of the drain also exert considerable earth pressure on the weakened side slabs of the drain rendering them more susceptible to failure.

Dr Akoto asked whether the ministry was considering covering the drains to prevent the dumping of solid waste and the Minister said when the complete replacement is undertaken the idea would be considered.