In a renewed effort to tackle perennial flooding in the Greater Accra Region, the government is set to launch a major demolition campaign targeting unauthorized structures at the Sakumono Ramsar site and buildings erected on waterways in Tema and its surrounding areas.
This directive, issued last Thursday by President John Dramani Mahama, highlights a more aggressive approach to managing unplanned urban development.
Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, who revealed the details during a media briefing, noted that the exercise will begin following the confirmation of new Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
“This time, there will be no exceptions. We have all witnessed the consequences. If a building is on a waterway, it has to go,” the minister stressed.
She also disclosed that she had received direct instructions from the Presidency to move swiftly on structures impeding water flow and contributing to flood risks in key areas.
Meanwhile, calls for stronger enforcement and community involvement are also echoing from other quarters. Member of Parliament for Klottey Korley, Dr. Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings, during a tour of her constituency with the Municipal Chief Executive, urged local authorities to respond promptly to residents’ concerns and to be proactive in protecting public lands.
“The work you do is not only about the ongoing projects. It is also about some of the real challenges that the people are complaining about,” she said. “The assembly needs to be empowered more… we have to protect the land.”
She emphasized the importance of preventive measures to avoid future demolitions. “We have to deal with this issue so that we don’t get to the point where we demolish people’s homes when we could have prevented it in the first place,” Dr. Rawlings concluded.
The planned demolitions are expected to form a crucial part of a broader urban resilience strategy as Accra continues to grapple with rapid development and its environmental impact.
