The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has announced a 21-day ultimatum for owners of structures situated within designated waterway buffer zones at Peshi Lagoon, Laboma, to remove their properties or face demolition by the Regional Security Council (RECSEC).
The directive forms part of intensified measures by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council to reclaim waterways, restore natural water retention paths and address persistent flooding across the region.
Speaking during an inspection and demolition exercise at Peshi Lagoon in the La Dadekotopon and Ledzokuku municipalities, the Regional Minister said structures found to have encroached on the designated buffer zones would have to be removed.
She explained that the decision followed concerns over increasing development along waterways, which has restricted the natural flow of rainwater and contributed to flooding in several communities.
“We want to get back that water,” the Minister said, stressing that the exercise was intended to create adequate buffers to allow stormwater to settle and gradually flow into the sea.
According to her, some of the structures had been identified during an earlier exercise, when their construction was still at foundation level, and owners had been cautioned against proceeding with development. Read Also: NYA Boss Champions Values, Patriotism Among Ghanaian Youth-1
However, she said some developers had continued construction, with some allegedly working at night and rapidly putting up structures within a matter of days.
The Minister rejected suggestions that local assemblies had simply failed to enforce planning regulations, explaining that some assemblies had faced serious challenges in dealing with encroachers, particularly where enforcement officers encountered resistance.
She said the current exercise was being undertaken under a firm government directive and would continue until the affected waterways were properly restored.
The Regional Minister further disclosed that arrests would be made where necessary, adding that owners of illegal structures would be held responsible for the costs associated with their removal.
She stressed that government would not bear the financial burden of demolishing structures erected in violation of the law.
The Regional Political Coordinator at the Office of the President, Anthony Nkwenu, who accompanied the Minister, said the government’s immediate objective was to restore the water retention path, dredge heavily silted sections and remove boulders and other materials obstructing the waterway.
He said some sections had been heavily silted and that the obstruction of water flow had contributed to flooding, particularly following recent heavy rains.
Mr. Nkwenu explained that although authorities had the legal basis to remove structures without further notice where they had been erected without permits, government had opted to give affected property owners 21 days to voluntarily remove their structures.
He said the intervention would be carried out in phases, with engineers and relevant institutions working together to restore the waterways and improve the capacity of drainage infrastructure.
The Regional Minister said 48 engineers had been deployed to support the anti-flooding exercise, while the Hydrological Services and the Ministry responsible for Water Resources would also provide technical input, including recommendations on engineering works around affected bridges.
She emphasised that the operation would not be a one-day exercise, but a continuous intervention aimed at addressing the root causes of flooding in vulnerable communities.
The authorities also appealed to residents, property owners and the media to support the exercise, describing the restoration of waterways as a shared national responsibility.
The Minister maintained that the government’s objective was not to inconvenience residents but to prevent further encroachment and protect communities from the devastating consequences of flooding.
She urged residents to comply with the 21-day notice and avoid putting up structures in waterways and their designated buffer zones. http://ghanaweb.com
