NADMO Boss demands sacking of Ablekuma West MCE over flood disaster
The Greater Accra Regional Director of NADMO has called for decisive action at the highest level of government, blaming local authorities for repeated flooding caused by unchecked illegal developments.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Dennis Martey Adjannor, has urged John Dramani Mahama to dismiss the Municipal Chief Executive for Ablekuma West, George Emmanuel Kpakpo Allotey, along with physical planning officers, over recent flooding in the municipality.
Mr Adjannor blamed the disaster on what he described as a failure by local authorities to enforce building regulations, particularly the prevention of construction on waterways.
According to him, illegal structures continue to spring up in flood-prone areas, worsening the impact of heavy rains and putting lives and property at risk.
“The majority of the structures in the affected zones were erected illegally,” he stated.
He further revealed that some structures previously demolished during enforcement exercises at Lafah and surrounding communities last year had been rebuilt, raising concerns about weak monitoring and enforcement.
Mr Adjannor accused officials responsible for issuing building permits and supervising physical development of negligence, arguing that their inaction has directly contributed to the persistent flooding in the area.
“This failure has exposed residents to flooding every time there is heavy rainfall,” he said.
Parts of the Ablekuma West Municipality were submerged following several hours of rainfall, displacing residents and destroying properties.
The NADMO director made the remarks during an assessment tour of flood-affected communities in Weija and Ablekuma, where the scale of destruction has renewed concerns about urban planning and disaster preparedness in the capital.
Residents in the affected areas also expressed frustration over the recurring nature of the floods, calling on authorities to take urgent and sustained action to address the problem.
The incident has once again highlighted longstanding challenges with enforcement of planning regulations and the growing vulnerability of communities built along waterways in the Greater Accra Region.
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