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Gov’t Assures Action on Musuku River Channel to Curb Flooding in Kwabenya-Ashongman

The Minister for Works and Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei has allayed fears over the state of the Musuku River Channel, assuring residents of Kwabenya and Ashongman that a major rehabilitation project is in the pipeline.

Date Created : 2/25/2026 7:10:16 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

Responding to a parliamentary question from the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah - who also resides in the affected area, the Minister confirmed that the troubled waterway is a top priority under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project.

The MP had raised concerns about ongoing and planned drainage interventions in the Musuku River catchment, which has been severely impacted by human activity.

Encroachment and Pollution: The Core Issues

According to the Minister, the Musuku Drain, a key tributary of the larger Odaw catchment in the Ga East Municipality, is suffering from unchecked construction along its banks. The Ghana Hydrological Authority (HYDRO) has documented how these unregulated activities have led to sedimentation, contamination, and a dangerous reduction in the river’s ability to carry water, heightening the risk of flooding in the enclave.

A Two-Pronged Solution Under GARID

To tackle these challenges, the downstream section of the Musuku Drain has been designated as a key intervention zone under the World Bank-backed GARID project.

“A major drainage project has been planned for this area,” the Minister stated. A central feature of this plan is the construction of a detention pond in the downstream section. This infrastructure is designed to:

* Regulate peaks in stormwater flow.

* Control the spread of sediment.

* Improve the channel's overall hydraulic performance.

Preliminary designs and feasibility studies have already been completed, outlining integrated measures to restore the river’s capacity, curb pollution, and prevent further encroachment.

Immediate Steps and Next Steps

While the full-scale GARID intervention awaits final approvals, the Ministry assured the public that work will commence immediately upon the green light to rehabilitate the affected drain and restore the ecological integrity of the Musuku River corridor.

In the meantime, HYDRO is not waiting idly. The Authority is actively engaging the Ga East Municipal Assembly and other stakeholders to enforce buffer zones, crack down on the indiscriminate dumping of solid waste, and coordinate routine desilting exercises.

“The Ministry assures the Honourable Member and this august House that the Musuku River channel is part of the priority drainage systems earmarked under the GARID framework,” the Minister concluded, reaffirming the government's commitment to addressing both the structural and environmental challenges plaguing the Kwabenya-Ashongman environs.