Over the past four years, the Kwabre East Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region has demolished at least 20 structures built illegally on waterways.
These buildings were not only unauthorized but also blocked the natural flow of water, increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rains.
The demolitions form part of efforts to prevent future disasters and promote safer, more resilient communities.
According to engineers and physical planning officials, some residents begin construction without considering the dangers of building in high-risk areas or seeking professional advice. This lack of planning has exposed several communities to flooding, erosion, and other environmental hazards.
Despite the well-known risks floods pose to lives and property, some developers in the municipality continue to build on waterways, further worsening an already hazardous situation.
Municipal Development Control Engineer, Abubakar Alhassan, said the consequences of such developments can no longer be ignored. He noted that the Assembly has intensified efforts to address the issue by targeting structures built on waterways.
“For the past four years, we’ve demolished not less than 20 buildings constructed on waterways,” he said.
He mentioned Bosore, Turba, Asenua, and Medoma as some of the communities where demolitions have taken place, serving as a warning to others against building in such locations.
Engr. Alhassan further stressed that action is taken immediately once a structure is identified on a waterway.
“The moment we see somebody developing on a waterway, we demolish it instantly. We enforce the demolition on both waterways and roads to ensure people don’t build on such sites,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Director of Physical Planning, Jonas Kwame Bonah, explained that although the Assembly has a solid development plan in place, enforcement continues to face major setbacks—especially interference from political figures and some traditional leaders, which hampers the work of planning officers and engineers.
“By the time you realize, the chiefs are there selling those portions to developers to build. We try our best to ensure that such developments are halted,” he said.
Engr. Alhassan echoed the same concern, adding, “The challenges we are currently facing are the interference of politicians and chiefs. When you stop someone from developing, the person will stop for the day, but before you know it, the structure is back up.”
Both officials say they remain committed to ensuring that flood-prone areas are protected and that illegal structures are swiftly dealt with to save lives and reduce disaster risks.
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