By Rachel Quartey
Communities within the Ayawaso North Municipality are welcoming what they describe as long-overdue relief as government officially breaks ground for a major inner-community drainage project.
The initiative, led by the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North, Yussif Issaka Jajah, forms part of President John Mahama’s 2024 campaign commitments and is expected to address years of flooding and sanitation challenges across Maamobi, Kawukudi, Accra New Town, the Kwatso Electoral Area and surrounding communities.
Residents say the sod-cutting ceremony marks the beginning of real change after decades of battling inadequate and unsafe drainage systems. The project, which was originally awarded as a ten-kilometre inner-roads contract, was converted into a drainage project after the Assembly identified inner drains as the municipality’s most urgent need.
Speaking at the ceremony, MP for Ayawaso North, Yussif Issaka Jajah, who is also the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, appealed for cooperation from residents and community leaders to ensure the smooth execution of the works.
“We need these drains urgently, but because the spaces are narrow and encroached, machines cannot enter. That means more manual work and delays,” he said. “If your container is on the drain path and they ask you to move it, please move it. No one intends to destroy anyone’s business.”
He also highlighted broader infrastructure challenges facing the constituency. Some areas, including Kwatso and Maamobi East, do not have a single government school. Other essential facilities such as a fire station, national ambulance post, community centre, and a completed municipal assembly office are still missing.
“The whole of Kwatso Electoral Area doesn’t have one government school. Maamobi East also has no government school at all,” he said. “We are begging our chiefs, landlords and opinion leaders—if you know of any land available for purchase, please inform the Assembly so we can secure space to build schools for our children.
We are a full municipality, yet we don’t even have our own municipal assembly office. We don’t have a fire station, an ambulance office or a community centre. These are basic facilities every community needs, and we are working with the Assembly to secure land for these projects.”
Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, assured residents of government’s full commitment to completing the project.
“The ministry is fully behind this project, and we are confident the contractor will deliver quality work,” he said. “But for the work to progress, we will need maximum collaboration from chiefs, assembly members and residents.”
He added that selecting a contractor from the community was intentional to ensure smoother engagement. “The best person who can work with us respectfully and understand our community is one of us. That is why I am happy he has been chosen.”
When completed, the drainage system is expected to significantly reduce flooding and improve living conditions across the constituency.
