News:
July 1, 2026
The government has announced plans to demolish buildings encroaching on six wetlands in Accra as part of a broader strategy to address perennial flooding, following Monday’s devastating floods that claimed 10 lives and displaced thousands of residents.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Deputy Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, said the restoration of the wetlands is critical to preventing future flooding. She explained that the wetlands, originally intended to serve as natural water retention areas during heavy rainfall, have been heavily encroached upon over the years.
“Mr. Speaker, we have about six wetlands that have to be restored in Accra alone. The reason we have to do this is that we need spaces where we can hold water. The rivers must be given their room and the streams must be given their space,” she stated.
According to the Deputy Minister, rapid encroachment on wetlands has reduced the city’s capacity to retain stormwater, increasing the speed at which runoff flows into the capital and leaving little room to contain excess water during heavy rains.
Ms. Tetteh-Agbotui warned that the government is determined to reclaim the affected wetlands and urged individuals who purchased land in those areas to seek redress from those who sold the properties.
“For those who have encroached and for those who sold the lands, please find a way of getting your money back, because the government is going to take them and use them for the right purpose,” she said.
She stressed that the wetland restoration programme, together with sustained funding for flood control projects and strict enforcement of demolition exercises, forms part of the government’s long-term plan to safeguard lives, protect property, and strengthen the country’s resilience against flooding.
Monday’s rains recorded 169.2mm in a single day, contributing to June 2026 becoming the wettest June since 1995 with 593.2mm, according to the Minister for the Interior.
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com