Recent floods tell the need to respect building regulations - Chireh

Denu, July 5, GNA - Mr Joseph Yileh Chireh, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, has reiterated the need for compliance with building regulations because of the sad experiences from recent and previous floods.

He described the drainage system in the country as poor and settlement patterns as haphazard adding that "people are putting up structures at places they know should not be encroached upon thereby blocking waterways."

Mr Chireh said this at Agbozume after leading the Presidential Task Force on Floods on a tour at the weekend to areas hit by the recent floods in the Keta Municipality and the Ketu-South District.

The team, which included Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Coordinator, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Kosi Degbor from National Security, who were joined by the Colonel Cyril Necku, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, visited Anloga, Kedzi and Vodza in the Keta Municipality and Adina, Denu and Agbozume in the Ketu-South District.

The team also visited Atorkor-Akplorwotorkor-Anyanui coastline devastated by sea waves. Mr Chireh asked the district assemblies to remain resolute in the enforcement of building regulations. He appealed for cooperation of the assemblies in the management of sanitation saying sanitation the world over had become a capital intensive venture that needed private sector support.

Mr Chireh said the Taskforce had been tasked by the President to assess the extent of the floods in the country for a comprehensive decision in the short and long term. He assured the people that government was not "sleeping" on the proposed sea defense project in the Atorkor area,

Mr Portuphy said due to bad attitudes, people often disregard the laws, which had become a major obstacle to the prevention of damage during floods.