It's been a year now that Weija Dam causes disaster and destroyed a lots of properties and makes life stranded for the good people of Weija and its communities.
This affected people of Ghana, expecially the citizens of Weija began to ask the Ghana Water Company Authorities and the Government questions, what was the main reason why the Dam caused flood and led to properties damages.
Some affected residents were very angry and disappointed that the government and The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) didn't give them a better answers to their questions but rather put the blame on them that, some of the citizens build on the waterways and also some of the people don't take permit from the Assembly before they put up any form of structure.
So when heavily downpour occurs the rain water doesn't get it own bypass to flow well, so that's also one of the main reason why flood keeps on occurred in Weija and its Communities.
In an interview with the media Nii AYI OKUFUMBOUR, the Youth Chief of Weija explained the exact reason why the Dam caused an unforgettable disaster in Weija and its environment, and he explained that the people of Weija haven't been happy and also haven't had good benefit of the Dam since it was built.
Last year's Dam spillway became a major problem that led to disaster, and the main cause was from the appointment of New Management, who was not accurate or familiar with the operating of the Dam, so this leads to the spillway flood and cause damage of properties and everything that happened was not intentionally but rather accidentally.
But advise has been given to them by the government, fisheries committees and well known organisations and very intelligent people that are very expertise in Dam management, so I think they've learned from their mistakes and they've put good measures in place now so I don't think we're going to experience this kind of disaster ever again, so my people should not panic about any Dam spillage, said by the Youth Chief Nii AYI OKUFUMBOUR.
He said it's very good to stay around water bodies especially river, all because water is life, and he explained that water plays a major role in mankind's life so its not bad idea to stay closer to a river or any form of water bodies. But one need to make sure to build at the right place around any water bodies just to avoid any flood or disaster.
Furthermore Nii AYI OKUFUMBOUR, also spoke about their poor road network and death trap bridge at Weija, citizens of Weija are deeply complaining about the current situation about their bridge on the highway road.
The Weija highway bridge shakes when these heavy trucks vehicles pass on it, so this has been cause fear and panic on the good people of Weija and the entire Ghanaians.
The Traditional Leader shared his thoughts about the situation and also made a suggestion towards it, and said that it about time that we change our ways of living and rolling our country, and he explained that we don't need to wait till the eleventh hour before we can act or to change a situation such as we don't need to wait till everything collapse before we can fix them.
Talking about the bridge issues he said the contractor who constructed the bridge should be called upon and answer to a questions like, why is the bridge shakes whenever heavy trucks pass on it? and he explained that every road or any bridge that the government has been payed to be construct has a range of time or years that it can sustain or last, so the company who constructed the bridge should bring back the contract agreement for review and check the period of years that the bridge supposed to last for everyone to see.
He said if the government can able to do that and that company find themselves guilty, then aether they refund back the money that was paid for the constructing of that substandard bridge or the company should rebuild the bridge with their own money and this time around very strong and quality.
Nii AYI OKUFUMBOUR also urged the Government and the Members of Parliament to come together and pass a bill on a behalf of those who construct our roads, bridges, schools, hospitals etc...
He said that the bill should contain strictly rules and regulations such as any contractor that construct any form of infrastructure which it may not be last till the date given in the contract agreement, that company or contractor should be prosecuted or ask to refund back the money that was given to.
Nii AYI OKUFUMBOUR continue said If the government can able to do this like we will have quality and strong infrastructure in our country, he explained that mostly we blame the government for everything that goes wrong in the country but here is the case that the government has paid a contractor to do a quality construction work and because there's no any rules or form of damage agreement, these contractors do not work to the higher standards point of quality ending but they uses second class tools or equipment for construction works so their works do not last for long then it get damaged.
He said he hope his contribution towards this whole issue reaches the government expecially the president of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and urged the government and the members of Parliament to make sure they pass this new bill.
Credit: Daniel Mensah.