President John Dramani Mahama has directed authorities to take decisive action against buildings constructed in waterways and wetlands as part of efforts to address Ghana’s perennial flooding problem.
Speaking on the recurring floods that continue to affect several parts of the country, President Mahama said human activities, particularly the construction of buildings in waterways and wetlands, have significantly worsened the situation.
According to him, wetlands play a crucial role in absorbing excess water before releasing it into the Atlantic Ocean, but increasing encroachment and land reclamation activities have reduced their capacity to contain floodwaters.
“The wetlands that absorb the water before releasing them into the Atlantic Ocean are being constricted because people are filling and building on them, reducing the volume of water they can contain. If they cannot contain that volume of water, it backs up and floods people’s homes,” he explained.
The President defended ongoing demolition exercises by authorities, noting that while some people may view such actions as harsh, they are necessary to protect lives and property.
“When the Greater Accra Regional Minister and her team go and demolish houses built in wetlands, people say government is inhumane. But it is also partly the fault of those who sell those lands because those lands are not supposed to be sold,” he said.
President Mahama also blamed some local assemblies and officials for approving developments in restricted areas.
“If anybody brings a house plan for a restricted area or waterway, the permit should not be approved. Yet some of these houses have building permits. How did they get them?” he questioned.
To tackle the challenge, the President disclosed that he has directed a task force made up of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other relevant agencies to identify all restricted waterways across the country.
“We are going to identify all the restricted waterways, and when that is done, I am directing that they should go ahead and do what they have to do,” he stated.
President Mahama expressed hope that Ghanaians would support the government’s efforts, stressing that the primary objective is to safeguard lives and prevent future flood disasters.
He further attributed the recent severe flooding to unusually heavy rainfall this year, noting that the rains began in May and have continued into June.
“We have to do some soul-searching. Government must be firm in doing what it has to do in order that we stop this perennial flood issue,” he said.
The President reiterated that protecting citizens remains the government’s foremost responsibility and called for collective support in addressing the country’s flooding challenges.
