Mahama orders removal of structures to curb flooding around Mallam Junction

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate demolition of all structures built on waterways around Mallam Junction in the Weija Gbawe Municipality.

This directive, the President emphasised, is essential to mitigating the devastating impact of perennial floods that have plagued the area for years, causing loss of lives and destruction of property.

The President’s order follows a recent inspection tour of flood-prone areas in Accra, where he engaged with city engineers, municipal authorities, and residents to assess the extent of the problem.

During the tour, Mahama expressed deep concern over the unregulated construction of buildings and other structures on waterways, which he identified as a major contributor to the frequent flooding in the area.

Addressing the city engineers and municipal authorities, President Mahama questioned the rationale behind allowing settlements and commercial structures to spring up in natural drainage channels.

He further emphasised the sheer volume of water that the Mallam Junction area is supposed to hold during heavy rains, warning that improper planning and unauthorised development would only exacerbate the situation.

“The assembly here, how did you sit and allow this to happen? How did the assembly allow this to happen? And that is why you have the chief executive; you have assembly members. They must be conscious of all this. These are waterways. Can you imagine the volume of water that this place alone can hold when it rains?

“And so if you fill it up and you say there should just be a drain passing through, the drain cannot contain that water. And so let’s do what we have to do. They should remove all these.”

Flooding has remained one of the most pressing urban challenges in Accra, particularly in low-lying areas such as Mallam Junction, Weija, Odawna, Kaneshie, and Circle.

The persistent problem has often been attributed to poor drainage systems, the indiscriminate disposal of waste, and, more critically, the encroachment of buildings and structures on natural floodplains and drainage channels.

Over the years, both residents and environmental experts have repeatedly called for government intervention to address the issue.

However, despite multiple warnings and demolition exercises in the past, unauthorised construction continues to worsen the situation.