The Ga East Municipal Assembly has begun demolishing structures built in waterways and drainage reservations, targeting hundreds of unauthorised buildings identified as contributing to flooding in the municipality.
Officials told JoyNews that the affected area serves as a major convergence point for floodwater from surrounding communities, making it especially vulnerable during heavy rainfall.
“The water is this one at the back. When it rains, the water rises and meets runoff coming from Madina towards this area. You can see the level — the water rises to that point and floods all these areas. That is why we are carrying out this exercise,” a NADMO official involved in the operation said.
He added that removing the obstructions would allow stormwater to flow freely through the drainage channels.
“We are doing this so that the water can move freely from the upper sections through the channel. All these areas get flooded, but people are still building here,” he said.
Residents in the area acknowledged the persistent flooding problem. One said movement becomes impossible whenever the drains overflow.
“When the gutter overflows, the whole place gets flooded, and we don’t have anywhere to pass,” he said.
Another resident noted that the situation had worsened following recent construction along the waterway.
“It was not like this before. But after the building was put up there, I realised that it was contributing to the flooding,” she said.
The Assembly has warned that more demolitions are coming in the days ahead as authorities intensify efforts to enforce planning regulations ahead of the peak rainy season.
