The Municipal Chief Executive of Ga West Municipal Assembly, Mr Clement Wilkinson has warned that the Assembly will arrest persons who sell lands at unauthorised places to people to develop them.
Also, he said the Assembly will arrest persons who buy such lands and as well those who develop them, especially those in waterways.
His caution follows a directive by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to ensure to pull down illegal structures that causes floods in the city.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged the MMDCEs to immediately pull down all such structures to reduce the occurrence of flooding in Accra.
“MMDCEs have been charged to ensure that obstructions to the free flow of water as well as developments on waterways are removed immediately. MMDAs are also to ensure the strict adherence to developments in the planning laws of the country and sanction staff who issue permits for structures to be put on waterways to serve as a deterrent for those who engage in such acts”, Nana Akufo-Addo ordered.
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Speaking on Atinka TV‘s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Mr. Clement Wilkinson said the President encouraged the MMDCEs to continue their work because some of them are scared of the people when they have pull down structures at un-authorised places.
He said, “For me, what I have done is that the one who sold the land, the one who bought it and the one who developed it will be arrested. Whether you are a chief or whoever you are, If you sell Land to someone and it is in water ways or at an unauthorised place and it affects the people, the Assembly will deal with you. Also, if you are a contractor who claims to be professional and you are building on a waterway, you will be arrested.”
Mr Wilkinson said so far, no casualties had been recorded as a results of the floods, saying although parts of Accra have been flooding during the rains, it was normal to experience floods in the municipality since there were not enough gutters.
Meanwhile, he said the MMDCEs will continue to work as required of them, thereby pulling down un-authorised structures.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori