The Ga East Municipal Assembly has seized several excavators from an ongoing construction project at a Ramsar site in Abokobi, a move that has reignited the national debate over wetland encroachment and environmental protection.

The assembly alleges the illegal construction was being carried out under the direct orders of Ibrahim Faila, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the neighbouring La Nkwantanang locality.

The incident comes just days after the government launched a major crackdown on illegal structures on waterways and Ramsar sites, following a series of devastating floods in the Greater Accra Region.

According to a spokesperson for the Ga East Assembly, the excavators were impounded at the site after it was discovered that the construction lacked the necessary permits and was encroaching on a protected wetland.

The spokesperson also revealed that Mr. Faila, the MCE of La Nkwantanang, a bordering municipality, has since contacted the assembly to demand the release of the seized equipment.

Ramsar sites are internationally recognised wetlands designated under the Ramsar Convention for their ecological significance.

They are critical for flood control, water purification, and biodiversity conservation. Ghana is a signatory to the convention, and these sites, such as the Sakumo Ramsar site and the Densu Delta Ramsar site in the Greater Accra Region, are crucial environmental assets.

The alleged involvement of a government official in the encroachment has raised serious questions about the political will to enforce environmental laws. While state-led demolitions have been a visible effort to protect these sites, critics argue that the very officials tasked with protecting them are often complicit in illegal activities.

This incident underscores the complex challenges facing Ghana in balancing urban development with environmental preservation.

The Ga East Assembly's swift action in impounding the excavators sends a strong message, but the demand for their release by a fellow MCE highlights the internal conflicts that often undermine national efforts to protect key ecological zones.

The Ga East Assembly says it will not release the excavators and will continue to pursue legal action against those responsible for the illegal construction.