The disturbing presence of many uncovered storm drains in many areas in Koforidua poses a serious threat to people within the Eastern Regional capital and is making the capital an unsafe city to live in, especially for women and children.
Today, many storms drains and other drains in the city have big and small uncovered openings that have been left unattended to for a long time, making them potential death traps.
Negligence on the part of City authorities has made some people fall victim to the poorly covered converts, with some having their legs stuck into the metal covers.
These metal structures are supposed to make it easy pedestrians who use the road which happens to be on higher ground to prevent them from falling into the gutters.
But these mangled and corroded metals lining on the gutters of the road have left some drivers and pedestrians wondering what their fate would be in the event of an unfortunate accident with some already becoming casualties.
Worriedly, most of these drains that have no concrete slabs or metal drain grates are often found in the pathway of pedestrians and cyclists who are faced with the daily risk of falling into them and getting either killed or maimed for life.
Some of the drains are covered partially with old car tyres, stones, blocks, wooden boards and sticks tied with red cloth, but the danger these holes pose to the public is compounded by the alarming number of malfunctioning street lights, frequent power outages during day time and in the evening and the submersion of such openings during the least rainfall.
At old Melcom traffic light, Total 2 opposite Ghana Commercial Bank, B Foster traffic light to the Regional Hospital, All Nation University through to Prince Boateng round about, etc storm drain is now a death trap to those using the road in both New Juaben North and South Municipalities, Eastern Regional capital.
During a walk along the drain by these reporters, in the company of some traders and residents of the area, it was seen that no less than 18 of the holes on top of the drain had no concrete slabs covering them, in spite of the fact that schoolchildren and others use the drain as access route to their schools to do businesses.
Out of frustration, and to protect the lives of mostly children, women and the aged, the residents have been compelled to cover some of the deep holes with old blocks, weak wood and iron mesh.
Residents speaking to the reporter revealed that the cast iron metal covers are either not placed well on the converts or have holes in them, a situation where many people have fallen victim to the situation.
According to the residents those who fell into the drain including schoolchildren were injured.
Sharing her experience, a woman in her 50s recounted that about 6 am in 2018, she fell into one of the covered drains in front of the Total 2 fuel station after she had come from a taxi cab on her way to a funeral.
According to her, the leg remains in the metals on the gutters for close to 5 hours before the fire service was able to remove it with their gargets.
She was rushed to the Eastern Regional Hospital at Koforidua where she underwent treatment.
Because the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) does not cover orthopaedic expenses, she said she had to spend all her life savings and investment on “expensive surgery, injections, drugs and hospitalisation, hiring of taxis to and from the hospital”.
“It took a number of years to gather that investment and it has taken just a few months to wipe it away. Right now, I can’t go places I used to go because when the pains become too much, I have to stay indoors.
“The incident has affected me economically and socially and I have lost my physical strength now,” she said.
Bryt FM/mybrytfmonline news reporters SOLOMON K. NUWORDU and AYISAH RICHARD understand that, due to the bad state of the metal covers, some irresponsible residents who stay closer do dump rubbish and toilet into the gutter breeding mosquitoes.
According to market women, they pay one cedi levy to city authorities but nothing has been done about the situation.
The reporter as part of his tour to the city also identified that most shop owners and traders have taken over pavements meant for pedestrians hence forcing them (pedestrians) to use the section where pavements are located.
Source: Ayisah Richard
