The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has launched a major enforcement campaign targeting unauthorised structures built on waterways, as part of efforts to reduce persistent flooding across the region.
The initiative follows an emergency stakeholder meeting convened on Monday after recent heavy rains caused flooding in parts of the region.
Dr Amoakohene reiterated government’s commitment to enforcing spatial planning regulations, warning that individuals and developers who compromise public safety through illegal construction on waterways will face strict legal consequences.
Following the meeting, the Minister led a high-level joint task force on an inspection tour of flood-prone areas, including officials from various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the Spatial Planning Department, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The inspection uncovered widespread encroachment on riverbanks and natural drainage paths, largely driven by unauthorised buildings and indiscriminate land reclamation activities.
Experts on the tour warned that such developments are severely restricting water flow and increasing the risk of flooding in vulnerable urban communities.
Dr Amoakohene stressed the need for collective responsibility in protecting waterways, urging residents, developers, local authorities and traditional leaders to prioritise environmental protection as a safeguard for lives and infrastructure.
As part of immediate interventions, the Regional Minister deployed heavy-duty machinery to clear blocked drains and improve water flow in affected areas.
The Ashanti Regional Director of NADMO, Alhaji Mohammed Nasir Ibrahim, confirmed that the office had secured authorisation and equipment from the Regional Minister to commence urgent desilting works.
The enforcement exercise also extended to institutional lands identified as high-risk flood zones.
At the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor David Asamoah joined the inspection team to address encroachment and drainage blockages around the Wewe River, which is prone to overflow during heavy rainfall.
