Ministry has no contract with E&P – Alhaji Dauda

Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has denied recent speculation that the Ministry has contracted Engineers and Planners (E&P) company to desilt the drains at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

He said the country was overwhelmed with the June 3 twin fire and flood disaster, which led to the loss of lives and properties and appealed to organizations and individuals to support Government to desilt the drains.

Alhaji Dauda said this when he led Mr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff and Mr Ibrahim Mahama, the Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners (E&P) to site on Friday to inspect the project.

The project, which is being supervised by Engineers and Planners company, was in response to the appeal made by Government to organizations and individuals to support in clearing the debris of the June 3 disaster and the desilting of the Odaw River.

Alhaji Dauda explained that E&P is carrying out the project with their personnel and expertise whiles the equipment is being provided by the Local Government Ministry.

He said the accumulation of sludge at major drains like the Odaw River was one of the major causes that led to the floods in Accra.

The Minister commended E&P for the benevolent work to support Government in the desilting of the drains from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to the Old Fadama section.

Mr Mahama said the work being done by E&P is to save Government from spending huge sums of money for desilting the river, adding that, such fund could now be used for other pressing needs or developmental projects.

He said E&P is doing the work as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility with their personnel and expertise.

Mr Ibrahim called on other organizations and individuals to support Government in the desilting of other choked drains likely to cause flooding in other parts of the country.

Source: GNA