Posted on December 1, 2025
Eight months after the Odawna River was dredged to reduce flooding in Accra, heaps of silt removed from the drain still sit abandoned along its banks.
The sand was supposed to dry briefly before being transported to a designated site, but that step never happened.
Today, the neglected mounds have become overgrown with weeds, some patches thick enough for cattle to graze on. With the rains now returning, portions of the same silt are being washed back into the drain, undermining the millions of cedis spent on the desilting project.
This failure risks reversing the progress made last year when President John Mahama directed contractors to speed up work before the rainy season. Dredge Masters said the silt needed to dry before it could be carted; their main reason for the delay.
But the heaps remain untouched, and the drain is once again narrowing.
A troubling question hangs over Accra: After all the investment and effort, is the city truly prepared for the floods ahead?
Below are pictures taken by JoyNews’ photojournalist, Osborn Etornam Fenuku:
Five months ago, the silt and waste that choked the drain were removed and left at the bank. They have remained there ever since.
This is the Odawna River – a major drain designed to carry heavy rainwater to prevent flooding. Its capacity is once again under threat.
Over the months, waste and silt have piled up in the drain again, compacting so much that birds now perch on them.
The silt collected months ago is still unattended to – a costly waste of public funds and resources.
Each time it rains, the abandoned silt is washed back into the drain, reducing water flow and increasing the risk of flooding.
The neglected silt has been there so long that weeds have taken over, providing grazing space for cattle – a clear sign of prolonged inaction.
