Residents in Kumasi have been asked to brace themselves for more floods as the rainy season approaches.

This is the advice from the Ashanti Regional Director for the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Kwabena Nsenkyire.

Speaking to David Akuetteh on Luv In The Morning on Luv FM, he mentioned that, until wetlands in the metropolis are especially reclaimed, the flooding situation will remain.

The NADMO boss expressed disgust at the wanton development of homes, offices, businesses and other structures in ecological areas across the region.

“I have great concern because from December till date, if you see the kind of illegal filling of wetlands going on in almost all the 43 districts in the region, you’ll be very sad. I’m not okay with the flood issue and unless we reclaim all the wetlands, we cannot stop the flood.”

Several lives and properties have been lost through perennial flooding in the metropolis but sadly, city authorities is yet to find the appropriate solution to the challenge.

Development on Wetlands
Concerns have been rife about some development springing up around the Atasen River close to both the Miklin Hotel and TUC junction, in Kumasi.

Mr. Nsenkyire told David Akuetteh, “…the developers are using the right technology. I can tell you, it’s a very perfect one, the designs and drawings are all perfect, it depends on the engineering work and it can be done.”

Head of the Town Planning Unit at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Benjamin Agyenim Boateng said there had to be political will to embark on demolition of structures in waterways.

“You need a strong political will…I, as a planner cannot go and demolish any structure in the system. To the best of my knowledge, we haven’t gotten any permission or any legal documents from the court but notwithstanding, there are laws that back my work.”