Kumasi flooding: KMA to pull down 351 houses

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) will soon demolish at least 351 houses following recent major flooding which killed more than four people and rendered hundreds of residents homeless in the wake of the destruction of property estimated at thousands of Ghana cedis.

“There are many houses in Kumasi on waterways which are supposed to be pulled down. The first phase of the exercise will see the demolition of about 57 houses but in general, it is getting to 351”. Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Kumasi said in an interview with Hello FM Tuesday monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

He indicated that the first 57 houses the assembly is going to deal with are those without permits adding that all necessary steps have been already taken to carry out the exercise without further delay.

The assembly is taking such steps in order to avoid any further court sanctions.

The houses, according to Mr. Assibey, are scattered throughout the city and not located in a particular area.

The Mayor also noted that though the amount involved is huge, the assembly would be able to fund it.

According to the Assembly, the step is to curb the recurrent situation of indiscriminate locating of houses. especially on waterways.

In his interview, he indicated that Kumasi, unlike any other assembly, is yet to receive the blessings of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II before the exercise begins.

When asked what the assembly will do should the Asantehene refuse to endorse the exercise, Mr. Assibey confidently said, “he is the first person who will endorse it”.

“The Asantehene has severally warned his chiefs about the sale of land on waterways and also people who build indiscriminately”, he added.

KMA’s swift decision was necessitated by the recent flooding of the city, leading to the death of at least four people.

The rainfall which lasted several hours in more than two days resulted in flooding in areas including Anloga, Kwadaso, Tafo, Sepe, Buokrom also destroyed properties worth more thousands of Ghana cedis

The National Disaster Management Organization in the region has blamed the Assembly for the recent flooding.