Tackling perennial flooding: 785 buildings on waterways in Accra earmarked for demolition

About Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five (785) buildings identified to be cited on waterways have been earmarked for demolition in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly as part of efforts by government to address the menace of flooding in Accra.

The demolition exercise, which is to be undertaken by the Assembly, is in response to the directives by His Excellency the President all Assemblies to ensure that buildings that impede the free flow of storm water in drainage channels are cleared.

Addressing the press on issues of flooding ahead of the rainy season yesterday in Accra, the Minister for Works and Housing Francis Asenso-Boakye (MP) disclosed that the Assembly is currently working on the necessary logistics to undertake the assignment.

The sector minister observed that while government is determined to build resilient communities that can withstand and reduce the incidence of flooding especially in Accra, certain human activities have hugely contributed to thwart the investments in the provision of drainage infrastructure.

The Minister observed that activities of developers in areas such as Tseaddo, Kpeshie Reserves, Railway Reserve Line at Roman Ridge, Villagio site, Amanfro as well as Teshi Bush Road in the Ledzokuku Municipal Asssembly have led to the destruction of buffers meant to hold storm water.

Other human activities, the Asenso-Boakye revealed have reduced the capacity of some rivers, resulting in backflow which in the process, flood communities upstream, noting that these illegal activities are widespread in many parts of the country.

With every attempt to stop the illegal reclamation of lands fiercely resisted by armed land guards, Asenso-Boakye disclosed that the Ministry has engaged the support of the Ministry of National Security for the Assemblies to enforce planning laws and building regulations as a way of halting the haphazard development on wetlands and other water bodies across the country.

“I asked the Assembly to ensure the work stops and further action taken against the developers.” The Minister added.