The Municipal Engineer for Tema West, Emmanuel Wardie, has highlighted ongoing concerns over illegal developments on buffer zones intended for rainwater collection across the municipality. According to him, this issue is widespread, with many individuals erecting unauthorized structures in flood-prone areas, exacerbating the risk of flooding.
“This is the same everywhere,” Mr. Wardie stated. “People have put up illegal properties on the buffer zones reserved for collection of the rainwater.”
Faced with this challenge, the municipality is considering two possible solutions: demolition of the illegal structures or re-engineering of the affected areas to better manage stormwater and mitigate flooding. Mr. Wardie, however, believes that demolition would not be the most viable or sustainable path forward.
“We have only two options for this municipality. One is to demolish or re-engineer the whole flood-prone areas in the municipality. And I believe that demolishing will not be the best,” he said. “So we are thinking of re-engineering, which will be the best option.”
In line with this plan, the municipal authorities have begun engaging stakeholders, particularly landlords whose buildings are implicated in the illegal developments. Encouragingly, these property owners have agreed to bear the cost of the re-engineering work.
“It cannot be the responsibility of the government alone,” Mr. Wardie emphasized. “The landlords have agreed to pay for the cost of re-engineering the areas.”
The Municipal Engineer for Tema West, Mr. Emmanuel Wardie noted that, a follow-up meeting is expected to be rescheduled soon to commence work on the re-engineering initiative.
Once the necessary engineering work is completed, the affected structures would be regularized and no longer classified as illegal.
Story by Freedom Lavoe
