The government has announced plans to demolish buildings encroaching on six wetlands in Accra as part of a wider strategy to restore the city’s natural drainage system and reduce the risk of flooding.
The move follows the devastating floods of Monday, June 29, which claimed lives, displaced thousands of residents and affected several communities across the Greater Accra Region.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, Deputy Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui said restoring the wetlands is essential to preventing future floods, stressing that government is ready to take difficult but necessary decisions.
She explained that the wetlands were originally designated as natural water retention areas to absorb excess runoff during periods of heavy rainfall but have been heavily encroached upon over the years.
“Mr. Speaker, we have about six wetlands that have to be restored in Accra alone. The reason we have to do this is that we need spaces where we can hold water. The rivers must be given their room and the streams must be given their space,” she told Parliament.
According to the Deputy Minister, the rapid development of wetlands has significantly reduced the city’s capacity to retain floodwaters, causing runoff to flow more quickly into populated areas during heavy rains.
She warned that all structures occupying the affected wetlands would be removed, urging affected landowners to seek refunds from those who sold them the lands.
“So those wetlands that have been encroached upon, for those who have encroached and for those who sold the lands, please find a way of getting your money back, because the government is going to take them and use them for the right purpose,” she said.
Ms. Tetteh-Agbotui added that restoring the wetlands, securing sustainable funding for flood mitigation projects and strictly enforcing demolition exercises form part of government’s long-term strategy to improve flood resilience and safeguard lives and property across the capital.
Source: citinews
