An Epistle To John IV

“If you want to kill any idea in the world today, get a Committee working on it” – C. F. Kettering.

John, learnt you’ve set up a Committee to delve into the causes of perennial flooding in Accra and its environs. Menua, the causes are not rocket science borne.

– You see the unbridled encroachment on wetlands – goggle and find out the essence of wetlands and why International Conventions protect same.

– ?Following from the above, the State is the worse offender – ECG has put up a sub station right on a wet land near the Ahmadiyya Mission at Old Ashongman thereabouts – the funny thing is, there is a sign post erected nearby indicating the area is a wetland.

– ?Further, the parcel of land at Bohye in Ga East where the Police Workshop and Driver, Vehicle & Licensing Authority (DVLA) has been relocated use to be a wetland with sign posts erected same.

– ?There are countless but for space let me touch on the Sakumuno Ramsar enclave which has been seriously encroached upon in your full glare and those who matter and ought to know better.

– ?Narrowing it to the frontage of the Regional Maritime University, RMU, where l once schooled, the entire parcel of land which used to harbour rear species of aquatic life is now extinct – Estate developers  with the active connivance of the “Chiefs and Elders” and to a degree, the Courts have and continue to invade the said parcel – WHO CARES?

– ?Choked drains – drains have been turned into refuse dumps and no one cares, yah, OPEN DRAINS.

– ?Plastic waste all over – no pragmatic step(s) is being initiated to contain same save lip service – let’s take a clue from Rwanda.

– ?Non adherence to building codes – John, are you aware there is a law which mandates developers to leave open spaces to absorb rain water? Go to West/East Legon, Tema, mention them, entire compounds have either been paved and or tiled – where do you expect the rain water they generate to flow to? Is this a Committte work?

– ?Regards the above scenario, the State is the first offender, yah, spearheading this indiscipline. Visit some State facilities – the entire compound paved , WHO CARES?

– ?Water ways encroached upon – yah, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey as Minister for the Beautification of the City or whatever (Nice name) told the whole world that those who had encroached on water ways and can pay will have their mess diverted – l said to myself, ay3 ka – this is what E. P. Whipple had to say, “Nature does not capriciously scatter her secrets as golden gifts to lazy pets and luxurious darlings, BUT imposes tasks when she presents opportunities, and uplifts him whom she would inform. The apple that she drops at the feet of Newton is but a coy invitation to follow her to the stars”.

Goethe adds, “Nature knows no pause in progress and development, and attaches her curses on all inaction”.

So Menua John, don’t waste our ears and touch not the public purse delving into the known.

Take the Local Governance Act and appreciate the immerse power the MMDAs wield, go through the EPA Act, study carefully the Act establishing the Water Resources Commission, you may take a look at the by -laws of the various Assemblies on the subject matter, let Lordina assist you with Article 41 (k) of Constitution 1992, it’s  her civic responsibility.

Extend an invitation to Mutala Mohammed to come to your office this morning – ask him to bring along all Committee reports on the subject matter shelved on the shelves at his Ministry over the years dusted and you will appreciate how needless the Committee you set up is.

Task DrAmoakohene to visit Aboabo and appreciate how liquid waste has been piped into River Aboabo and Subin in the full glare of all who matter in the equation – this action and inaction has culminated in the near extinction of the aforesaid river bodies.

John, NEED I ADD MORE?

By Osei Kwabena Esq.

(Etia Street, Asante Effiduase) 

Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article do not represent that of The Chronicle

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