President John Dramani Mahama has warned that public officials who authorized building permits within the Weija Dam spillway area could lose their jobs as concerns mount over illegal developments in flood-prone zones.
Addressing members of the Ghanaian community in London on May 31, the President revealed that he has directed the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, to investigate the issuance of the permits and identify those responsible. He stressed that any official found to have acted improperly would face dismissal.
According to Mahama, accountability is necessary to address the growing problem of construction in designated waterways and flood-control zones. He stated that officials who approved such developments would not simply be reassigned but removed from office.
The President blamed part of the problem on some traditional authorities, landowners, and local assembly officials, accusing them of facilitating the sale and development of land reserved for water flow and flood management.
He explained that portions of land surrounding the Weija Dam spillway, which are intended to accommodate excess water released during heavy rains, have increasingly been converted into residential areas. As a result, many homeowners experience flooding whenever water is discharged from the dam.
Mahama also criticized local assemblies for permitting construction in waterways, noting that some developments should never have been approved in the first place.
The Weija Dam, a key source of water supply for parts of Accra and nearby communities, is periodically opened during heavy rainfall to prevent overflow and protect the facility.
Communities downstream, including Tetegu, are currently dealing with the effects of recent spillage, which has displaced residents and caused significant damage to homes and property.
Source: myjoyonline.com
