Shrine location hinders dredging of drains

Dredging of some drains in the Adentan Municipal Assembly (AdMA) to prevent flooding during the rainy season is being hindered by the owners of a shrine who fear the work will destroy part of the dwelling place of the deity.

The Municipal Roads Engineer at AdMA, Mr Emmanuel K. Salifu, made this known when the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Daniel Alexander Nii-Noi Adumuah, toured parts of the municipality last Wednesday to assess the preparations the assembly had made towards the rainy season.

The MCE was accompanied by officials of the Physical Planning Unit Department, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Urban Roads Works Department of the assembly.

Some of the areas toured were the Frafraha Prison Junction, Amrahia Newtown Zongo, Ashieyie Fulani Junction and Frafraha Animal Research, all of which are flood-prone.

Briefing Mr Adumuah, the Municipal Roads Engineer, explained that dredging had had to be stopped at the point where the shrine was located because of the concerns raised by its owners.

“In engineering, when you get to such places, you have to respect the traditions, rules and views of the people,” Mr Salifu further explained.

He said the family which owned the shrine had told him that certain rites would have to be performed before the watercourse in front of the shrine could be dredged.

Mr Salifu, therefore, appealed to the MCE to take up the issue to pave the way for dredging to continue.

At the Frafraha Prison Junction, where the shrine is located, the owners of the shrine confirmed to the MCE that they had to perform certain rites before the watercourse could be dredged.

Responding to their concerns, Mr Adumuah advised the shrine owners to dredge the waterway themselves, to prevent any possible damage to it.

“I have spoken to them and they have agreed to do it. I have accorded them the respect and I trust they will do it and if they do not, I shall use the law,” he said.

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Source: Graphic Online/Ghana