In a bid to mitigate persistent flooding in Accra, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Ocloo, in collaboration with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the Tema West Municipal Assembly, has spearheaded a significant demolition exercise at the Sakumono Ramsar site.
This operation was supported by a multi-agency task force that included the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and the Forestry Commission.
According to the Regional Minister, this initiative was a direct response to a directive from President John Dramani Mahama, aimed at safeguarding vital ecological zones and reducing the risk of flooding in the capital.
Madam Ocloo expressed her frustration over the continued illegal development on the Ramsar site, despite numerous warnings. She cautioned that henceforth, recalcitrant individuals would face the full force of the law.
“In our plans, what we’ve put in place is that this time it’ll not be only demolition; beyond demolition, we’re looking at prosecution.
“When your structures are being destroyed and you try to rebuild them, definitely you’ll be jailed.
“Do you remember, we’ve been here before to demolish people’s structures? That’s why we’re not moving forward.
“We’ve established our timetable: any building structures on the waterside will be destroyed, and we cannot go to area A and then return to area A again; instead, we must move to area B, and this cannot help us progress.
“Like I said, beyond demolition we’re looking at prosecution, and if you’re caught raising your structure again, you will be arrested.
“We’re not implementing this only in Greater Accra, but it will extend across the entire country,” she warned.
Tema Mayor Madam Ebi Bright pledged that the Assembly, in partnership with sister agencies, would intensify surveillance of the Ramsar site.
She stated, “The residents should understand us; the instructions are given to us by President Mahama to the Regional Minister, and we, who are under her guidance, are responsible for ensuring that Tema Metro and Tema West come together to effectively manage this area.”
