President Supports Moves To Demolish Unauthorized Structures

Ghana’s President Kufuor has given his full support to the intended demolition of some structures in Ghana’s capital, Accra. The demolition exercise will cover buildings cited sited in waterways across the metropolis. The Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, last week, announced that government would have to take a hard decision and demolish buildings sited in waterways.

The decision followed last week Wednesday’s floods, which claimed the lives of 13 people and destroyed property worth billions of cedis. After an aerial tour of Accra, he declared that he supports the decision of the Works and Housing Minister.

The President’s helicopter tour covered McCarthy Hill, Weija, Bortiano, Kaneshie, Spintex Road, the Secaps Hotel area, Odawna and the townships along the Korle Lagoon which were badly affected by the floods. After the tour, deputy presidential spokesperson Ferdinand Ayim, said Mr Kufuor realized that Accra is not properly planned and this accounted for the floods.

He will therefore strengthen the various Town and Country Planning institutions to ensure order in the planning of towns in the country. Once the exercise is concluded it is expected to allow for the unimpeded flow of water through proper channels to prevent the perennial flooding and loss of lives and property.