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The Gomoa East District Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), in collaboration with a joint security task force, has begun demolishing unauthorized structures erected on waterways and other restricted areas at Kofi Anna City and Kakraba Down in the Central Region.
The exercise follows the recent flooding that displaced hundreds of residents, destroyed properties worth thousands of Ghana cedis, and exposed the growing impact of unregulated development in flood-prone communities.
According to officials, the demolition exercise forms part of measures to prevent future flooding, restore the natural flow of stormwater, and enforce planning regulations within the district.
Speaking in an interview with the media, the Gomoa East District NADMO Director, Hon. Hassan Hamidu, said the Assembly, in collaboration with other state institutions, is determined to remove every structure illegally constructed on waterways and in other unauthorized locations.
He noted that the persistent flooding experienced in parts of the district is largely due to indiscriminate building on drainage channels and wetlands, coupled with poor waste disposal practices that block drains during heavy rains.
Hon. Hassan Hamidu appealed to residents to obtain the necessary building permits before putting up structures and to avoid encroaching on waterways.
He stressed that the Assembly would not hesitate to take action against developers who flout planning regulations, adding that safeguarding lives and property remains the foremost priority.
Meanwhile, some affected residents, who lost household belongings and other valuables in the recent floods, have appealed to the government, humanitarian organisations, and other stakeholders to support them as they rebuild their lives.
They also commended NADMO and the District Assembly for undertaking the demolition exercise, saying the illegal structures had obstructed waterways for years and contributed significantly to the recurring floods in the area.
The residents expressed hope that the exercise would help prevent similar disasters in the future.
Story by Yaw Boagyan