Former Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) across the country to take decisive action to demolish structures built on waterways in order to tackle Ghana’s recurring flooding problem.
The Bantama Member of Parliament expressed concern that many of the flooding incidents recorded in Kumasi and other major cities are a direct result of buildings illegally constructed on watercourses — in some cases, with permits issued by the assemblies themselves.
Speaking during a sitting of the Local Government and Rural Development Committee of Parliament on Monday, October 6, Asenso-Boakye, who also serves as the Ranking Member of the Committee, described the situation as alarming and called for a coordinated national response.
“A lot of developments are taking place on waterways. In Kumasi, for example, they are there. If we do not work together to curb this anomaly, we will be living in our cities, and one day a flood will come and wash all of us away,” he warned.
The former minister emphasised the need for local authorities to exercise greater responsibility in the issuance of building permits, stressing that strict enforcement of planning and zoning regulations is critical to averting disasters.
“It is important that we recognise that our actions and inactions contribute to the underdevelopment of our country. The assemblies must ensure that building permits are approved only for developments in areas that are not on waterways,” he added.
His remarks come amid renewed public concern over widespread flooding and growing calls for stricter enforcement of land-use and environmental regulations nationwide.
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