The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Tema West Municipal Assembly have launched a three‑day demolition exercise targeting illegal structures within the Golf Course enclave of the Sakumo Ramsar Site.
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‎ According to a 3news.com report, coordinated operation, which began on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, is expected to run until Thursday, May 7, 2026.

The exercise marks one of the most decisive enforcement actions yet against persistent encroachment threatening the internationally recognised wetland.

‎Authorities say the exercise is driven by a growing drainage crisis, with illegal buildings constructed along key waterways obstructing the natural flow of water and worsening flooding in surrounding communities.

“The presence of illegal buildings on critical waterways has significantly obstructed drainage channels, exacerbating flooding in surrounding communities,” 3news quoted officials as saying.

They warned that the situation has become necessary with the onset of the rainy season.

‎Officials also reportedly emphasised that restoring the natural flow of water courses is not only an environmental imperative but an urgent public safety matter, with lives and property increasingly at risk.

They stressed that this week’s demolition is not a sudden or isolated response but part of sustained enforcement actions carried out over several years to protect the Ramsar site.

“This is a continuation of sustained enforcement actions. Despite repeated warnings, notices, and earlier demolitions, encroachment on the land has continued, prompting the need for a more decisive and coordinated response,” officials explained.

‎Authorities expressed concern that the increasing disregard for planning regulations not only endangers the fragile ecosystem but also directly threatens the safety of communities that depend on its natural drainage functions.

‎Meanwhile, security personnel have been deployed across the site to maintain order and prevent confrontations between officials and affected property owners.

Individuals have also been urged to vacate structures in the affected areas and cooperate fully with demolition teams to ensure a smooth operation.

‎Officials further indicated that enforcement will not end with this three‑day exercise.

They have indicated that further actions would follow as part of the government’s broader commitment to protecting Ghana’s Ramsar sites and reducing flood vulnerability in the Greater Accra Region.

‎VKB/VPO