Cabinet has declared the country’s perennial flooding that continues to affect lives, livelihoods and property as a national security threat, and has subsequently called on the various law enforcement agencies to play a critical role to address the challenge. 

In view of this, Cabinet has constituted a committee to develop a comprehensive plan with appropriate measures to strengthen the enforcement of laws relating to lands and siting of buildings.

The committee comprises the Minister of National Security as its Chairperson, with Ministers of Works and Housing, Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Sanitation and Lands and Natural Resources reps as members.

These were made known by the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, when he delivered a statement in Parliament on Thursday, regarding measures being undertaken by the Ministry to address flooding challenges in the country.

With the increasing risk of flooding across the country, largely due to inadequate drainage infrastructure, improper solid waste disposal, disregard for planning rules and regulation, and rapid urbanization among others, the sector Minister is optimistic the decision by the government will go a long way to trigger a holistic approach to mitigate the challenge and bring relief to the citizenry.

Having observed constructions on waterways with blatant disregard for local and national laws, Asenso-Boakye assured of his Ministry’s continuous engagement with the Ministry of National Security in seeking support for assemblies to enforce planning laws and building regulations.

“My Ministry will also continue engagement with the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development to strengthen the support provided to the assemblies in addressing the issue of buildings on waterways and drainage buffers.”