Residents in Blemagor, an Abeka suburb with the Okaikoi Central Constituency suburb of Okaikwei North Municipality, in Accra, are up in arms against the Assembly over its inability to demolish buildings on waterways.
According to residents, the demolition must be done to make way for the construction of the drainage systems to stop future flooding in the area.
They said, they do not have to wait and lose lives before actions are taken.
Blemagor residents also averred that buildings that have been constructed on waterways have caused serious and excessive flooding in the community.
The buildings on waterways have brought to a halt the construction of a drainage systems because, according to them, the Assembly is unable to demolish buildings on the water ways.
“People from the Assembly came to write “Remove” on the building with a date which is past and construction of the drainage has come to a halt, meanwhile the property owner is unable to provide documents to the Assembly,” the residents stated.
The Residents said the Assembly’s date of demolition has expired and nothing has been done.
They are therefore calling on the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Boye Laryea, to demolish all buildings on waterways whilst asking government to prosecute people who sell lands on waterways as one of the first steps towards dealing with Accra’s perennial flooding.
A resident whose property is much affected anytime it rains said, this is the time government must address illegal acquisition of lands and bring people who do not go through the proper channel to acquire building permits before putting up their buildings to book.
They said, the time has come for the authorities to break down buildings on waterways, adding that “the time to do that is now.”
The residents also said the approval agencies must stop registering lands in waterways because nobody can build on waterways unless it has been approved.
