The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, is urging Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce by-laws that will prevent private developers from building on waterways.
Speaking to journalists after wrapping up a three-day working visit to the Ashanti Region, Mr. Asenso-Boakye called on all Assemblies to be resolute in carrying out their mandate.
“This indiscriminate, irresponsible dumping of solid waste into our drainage channels must stop. I believe that it is a shared responsibility when it comes to flood mitigation. The citizenry has a role to play. The development, building on watercourses, waterways, and streams must be stopped.”
“I want to take this opportunity to urge the District Assemblies who are involved to make sure that they enforce strictly planning laws to the letter and whenever they realize that any developer has built on a waterway especially without a permit, that structure must be pulled down immediately. As a ministry, whatever support that they need to ensure that these are enforced, we are prepared to do so,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has tasked the Works and Housing Ministry to take steps to address perennial flooding in parts of the country.
The Asantehene expressed concern about the indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and construction on waterways, which he cited as major causes of flooding.
“Whenever there is a downpour, there is flooding because the drains are choked. Some people dump indiscriminately into the drains and the water is not able to flow freely. It was in the era of Busia that he initiated the construction of sewage systems, but that has not been continued by successive governments. If we don’t find a permanent solution to the flooding situation, the roads we construct will continue to deteriorate.”
