The Ghana Hydrological Authority has identified illegal structures on waterways and wetlands as a major cause of Sunday’s flooding in parts of Accra.

According to the Director of Drains at the Hydrological Authority, Richard Amekor, their assessment revealed that unapproved construction works blocked natural drainage paths, worsening the impact of Sunday’s heavy rains.

“What we picked out on the ground has to do with a lot of illegal buildings on our waterways. People have built on the wetlands and encroached on our water bodies. These are the major things we gathered on the ground today after yesterday’s heavy rains, which caused flooding in some parts of Accra,” he said.

Mr Amekor stressed the need to urgently address the issue as the country prepares for the peak of the rainy season. He emphasised earlier comments by President John Mahama about the need to remove all structures obstructing drainage systems.

“If you could recall, the President in his speech said that those people living close to our drains, their structures are going to be pulled down to allow water to flow when it rains,” he stated.

He also advised residents in these areas to vacate and relocate to avoid future disasters.

“They need to leave those places; they are not supposed to be there. For example, in Weija, people are building in the estuary, which is wrong. If they are there and it rains, where will the water go? It will go into their homes, and this is the challenge we are having.”

“So what I am saying is that it is about time we control our development,” he underscored.