The Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has ordered a temporary halt to the ongoing construction of the China Mall project in Koforidua after the developer failed to comply with directives to build proper open drainage and culverts around the facility.
According to the directive, the non-compliance has contributed to persistent flooding in the surrounding area, affecting residents and businesses during the rainy season.
This is not the first time work on the project has been stopped. Last year, the Minister directed that construction be paused until the developers met regulatory requirements and put in place measures to mitigate flooding. Despite the earlier warning, residents continued to raise concerns about waterlogging and damage to property whenever it rained.
Mrs. Awatey noted that the safety and well-being of residents cannot be compromised for any project.
According to her, the China Mall project, intended to serve as a commercial and cultural facility, has been welcomed by many as a potential boost for trade, employment, and investment in Koforidua.
However, local authorities insist that development must align with environmental and urban planning regulations to prevent recurring flood disasters.
Residents in the affected neighborhoods have welcomed the Minister’s intervention, calling it a necessary step to protect lives and property. They are urging the developer to act swiftly to rectify the drainage issues so that construction can resume without further disruption.
The Minister says she will continue to monitor compliance and will only lift the suspension once engineers confirm that all drainage works have begun.
The developer is expected to engage with the technical teams from the Municipal Assembly and the Department of Urban Roads to redesign and construct drainage infrastructure that meets approved standards before work resumes.
Source: Koforiduatoday.com
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