Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister for Works and Housing, has ordered the La Dade-Kotopon and Ledzokuku Municipal Assemblies to halt ongoing construction works by some private developers on the Kpeshie Lagoon Wetlands in Teshie.
He gave the order when he inspected the progress of ongoing drainage works at Wetlands in Teshie, a suburb of Accra last Thursday.
He expressed shock at the rate at which the Kpeshie Lagoon Wetlands and its buffer reserve areas are blatantly being filled with construction materials by private developers.
Mr Asenso-Boakye reminded the Assemblies of the directives of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to pull down structures that are illegally cited within or on the way of wetlands or waterways with the tendency to contribute to the perennial flooding in the country.
“It is unfortunate that despite the heavy investment in drainage infrastructure over the years, irresponsible behaviour of private developers continues to expose the city, especially in areas, which hitherto, were not noted for flooding,” the Minister stated.
The Minister said the power to embark on a demolition exercise on the illegal structures lies within the Assemblies and therefore, called on them to act swiftly to avert flood-related disasters with the onset of the rainy season.
Commenting on the need to demolish structures built on waterways and in wetlands, the MCE for the La Dade-Kotopon, Mr Solomon Kotey Nikoi, said the Assembly’s efforts to stop the building of illegal structures have become a challenge that needs the urgent intervention of its supervising Ministry.
“Efforts to stop, demolish and arrest culprits have been met with assaults by land guards and death threats,” he stated.
Mr Nikoi called on the Minister to assist in constituting a national task force to deal with the menace of encroachment in wetlands, to which the Minister responded in the affirmative.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
