China Mall Construction in Koforidua Temporarily Suspended Over Drainage Concerns
By Abdul Rashid Dickson
Koforidua, Eastern Region
Construction work on the China Mall project in Koforidua has been temporarily suspended following the developers’ failure to comply with earlier directives regarding proper drainage and culvert installation, the New Juaben South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Ransford Owusu Boakye, has disclosed.
The MCE made this known after joining the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, on a joint inspection of the project site in Koforidua. The visit was prompted by mounting concerns over recurring flooding, which has been adversely affecting residents and businesses in areas surrounding the construction site.
According to Hon. Ransford Owusu Boakye, the suspension followed the developers’ disregard for specific directives issued to ensure that adequate drainage systems and culverts were incorporated into the construction process. These requirements, he noted, are critical to preventing the persistent waterlogging and flooding that have become a major concern for nearby communities.
“We issued clear directives on drainage and culverts, and those directives were not followed. The result is that people living and doing business around this site continue to suffer the consequences of recurring flooding. That is unacceptable, and we will not allow construction to proceed until every outstanding issue has been fully resolved,” Hon. Ransford Owusu Boakye stated.
Following the inspection, the developers were formally directed to engage with the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly (NJSMA) and the Urban Roads Department to comprehensively address all outstanding compliance issues.
Work on the project will only be permitted to resume after all identified deficiencies have been rectified to the satisfaction of the relevant authorities.
The intervention signals the Assembly’s firm stance on ensuring that development projects within the municipality adhere to approved standards, particularly those that directly impact public safety and community infrastructure.
The China Mall project, when completed, is expected to become a significant commercial development in Koforidua. However, authorities have made it clear that the pace of construction must never come at the expense of residents’ safety and environmental compliance.
The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly remains committed to responsible, standards-driven development under its guiding vision: