The District Chief Executive for Ada East District, Kenneth Kabu Kofi Kanor, has issued a strong warning over increasing encroachment on waterways in the Ada-Akosombo enclave.

He cautioned that the situation could trigger severe flooding if urgent action is not taken.

His concerns come as Ghana approaches the rainy season, with memories still fresh from the devastating 2023 spillage of the Akosombo Dam, which displaced more than 30,000 people across three regions and destroyed properties worth millions.

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In a JoyNews report on April 28, 2026, local authorities decried that illegal construction and land reclamation activities along riverbanks and flood-prone zones have intensified, even after the lessons of the 2023 disaster.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) has warned that such encroachment is limiting its ability to manage water flow effectively along critical flood pathways.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Emergency Preparedness Plan programme, Kanor expressed alarm at the scale of development within protected buffer zones.

“The buffer is about 50 meters from the river, but I can tell you there are about 2,000 structures within the area,” he said.

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He added that even areas previously untouched are now being encroached upon, including sensitive island zones.

“Now that Ada and the cliffs have been encroached, the next target is the islands. These were not supposed to be touched, but development is now moving into those areas,” he stated.

Kanor also pointed to growing threats to ecologically sensitive zones, including areas designated as Ramsar sites near Aqua Safari Resort.

“These are areas where the Environmental Protection Agency Ghana and other stakeholders must step in so we can act,” he noted.

The VRA has reiterated that unchecked development along waterways could worsen the impact of any future spillage from the Akosombo Dam.

With the rainy season approaching, officials are urging residents, developers, and local authorities to respect zoning regulations and prioritise safety to prevent another large-scale humanitarian crisis.

VPO/AE

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