The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kwadaso, Hon. Eric Assibey, has cautioned Ghanaians against building on waterways, warning that the country’s recurring flood disasters will worsen if the practice continues.
Speaking after a National Sanitation Exercise at Sofoline, Tanoso, Dominase and the Topre section of the Dwahwe3 Stream, he attributed the increasing incidence of flooding, particularly in the Ashanti Region, to indiscriminate construction on watercourses and poor environmental practices.
The exercise, which involved desilting and dredging the stream, formed part of efforts to improve the free flow of water and minimise flooding during the rainy season.
Hon. Assibey stressed that clearing choked drains alone would not eliminate flooding unless residents changed their attitudes towards sanitation and land use.
He urged the public to keep their surroundings clean, avoid dumping waste into drains, and ensure all building projects comply with planning regulations.
He also advised prospective developers to obtain the necessary permits and engage qualified professionals to confirm that proposed sites are not located on waterways or flood-prone areas.
The Ashanti Regional Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Alhaji Rabiu, said the anti-flood interventions form part of government’s disaster preparedness strategy aimed at protecting lives and property.
He noted that the initiative, being implemented under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, seeks to reduce the impact of flooding through preventive measures, including regular desilting of drains and increased public awareness on environmental sanitation.
