SAVE ODAW PROJECT (OCT 5, 2010)

THE beauty of every city in the world is measured not only in terms of the number of high-rise buildings and the provision of street lights but also how water bodies are utilised to derive the most benefit in terms of health and sanitation.
It was with this in mind that over a decade ago our development partners supported us with huge resources to carry out the Odaw development project.
Characteristic of our inertia, the drain, completed over a decade ago, has been left to go waste, with silted sand, garbage and weeds.
It is, therefore, no wonder that (as reported elsewhere) our development partners are unwilling to support the country in constructing further drains in the capital to ease the perennial floods in the city.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is saddened that the Odaw project that has the potential to create a serene atmosphere for residents of the capital city is yet to be fully realised.
The challenge involving squatters along the drain is a major one which cannot be wished away. This is because of the United Nations’ position on the status of squatters and the enforcement of laws that will be to the disadvantage of the vulnerable in society.
Thankfully, the situation is not a totally bad case. The DAILY GRAPHIC expects state authorities whose mandate it is to oversee this project to do whatever it takes to revive this project to assure our development partners that it can be done.
The quantum of funds sunk into this project cannot be allowed to go down the drain just because people tasked with this work have thrown up their hands in despair.
The potential of the project to create job opportunities, provide healthy surroundings and recreational edifice for many residents of Accra should spur the authorities on to pursue this project with all the vigour it deserves.
The construction of a 7.2km canal from Abossey Okai to the Tema Motorway will not only be a befitting monument for the status of Accra as a Millennium City but also, more important, position the country as one of the eco-friendly places on earth and thereby attract tourists.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, however, cautions that should we fail to undertake this project with the zeal that it deserves, the Odaw River will slowly die as a result of the heavy pollution it has seen in recent times.
We acknowledge that dealing with the squatters will be a difficult endeavour. However, with tact and careful planning, that problem can be overcome to pave the way for work to resume on the project.
This project cannot be left for the government alone to handle; civil society groups and the entire citizenry must be part of the solution to the problem.
It is crucial. Let us save the Odaw project now.