The Ga East Municipal Assembly has announced plans to begin demolishing structures built on waterways from Thursday, July 16, as part of renewed efforts to reduce flooding within the municipality.

The exercise comes in the wake of the recent floods that claimed 11 lives and left a trail of destruction in parts of the municipality.

Speaking during a visit by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, on Wednesday, Environmental Health Officer for the Assembly, Ing. Charles Asabreh, said affected occupants had been given notice to vacate the designated areas ahead of the demolition exercise.

According to him, the Assembly has already rolled out several interventions aimed at improving drainage infrastructure and reducing the risk of future flooding.

These measures include dredging streams, desilting drains, clearing blocked culverts and removing accumulated waste to ensure the smooth flow of stormwater.

Ing. Asabreh disclosed that officials had identified a section of the municipality where makeshift structures have encroached on waterways, prompting the decision to clear the area to restore natural drainage channels.

He explained that the demolition is a key component of the Assembly’s flood mitigation strategy and is intended to prevent a recurrence of the devastation witnessed during the recent heavy rains.

The Local Government Minister’s inspection forms part of ongoing efforts by government to assess the impact of the floods and strengthen disaster preparedness across flood-prone communities in the Greater Accra Region.

Authorities have consistently cautioned residents against developing properties on waterways, warning that such activities obstruct drainage systems, heighten the risk of flooding and put lives and property in danger.