President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate demolition of all buildings constructed on waterways at Mallam Junction in the Weija Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

The President’s directive comes as a decisive measure to mitigate the devastating impact of recurrent flooding in the area, which has led to significant loss of lives and destruction of property over the years.

The order follows Mahama’s recent inspection tour of flood-prone zones in Accra, where he engaged with city engineers, municipal officials, and residents to assess the severity of the flooding issue.

During the visit, he expressed his concern over the unauthorized construction of structures on waterways, which he described as a major cause of the frequent flooding in the region.

Addressing municipal authorities and engineers, President Mahama questioned how such developments were permitted, emphasizing the critical role of the Mallam Junction area in managing stormwater.

He stressed that obstructing natural waterways with buildings significantly reduces their capacity to handle rainwater, leading to severe flooding.

“The Assembly here, how did you sit and allow this to happen?

How did the Assembly allow this to happen?

And that is why you have the chief executive have assembly members.

They must be conscious of all this.

These are waterways. Can you imagine the volume of water that this place alone can hold when it rains?

“And so if you fill it up and you say there should just be a drain passing through, the drain cannot contain that water.

And so let’s do what we have to do.

They should remove all these,” the President stated.

Flooding has long been one of Accra’s most pressing urban challenges, particularly in areas such as Mallam Junction, Weija, Odawna, Kaneshie, and Circle.

The issue is often attributed to inadequate drainage systems, poor waste management, and, most notably, unlawful construction on floodplains and drainage routes.

Environmental experts and residents have consistently called for action to address the issue.

Although past demolition exercises have been conducted and warnings issued, the persistent encroachment on waterways has only exacerbated the problem.

President Mahama’s directive marks a renewed effort to tackle the root causes of flooding and protect vulnerable communities from further disaster.