Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, the Deputy Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, has announced that the John Mahama government will demolish buildings encroaching on six wetlands in Accra.
She disclosed that the demolition is part of a broader strategy to reduce flooding and restore the capital’s natural drainage system.
Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui detailed that the rapid encroachment on wetlands has increased the speed at which runoff flows into the capital, leaving little capacity to contain excess water.
According to her, the restoration of the wetlands is critical to preventing future flooding, adding that the government is prepared to take difficult but necessary decisions.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui stated, “Mr Speaker, we have about six wetlands that have to be restored in Accra alone. The reason we have to do this is that we need spaces where we can hold water. The rivers must be given their room, and the streams must be given their space”.
“So those wetlands that have been encroached upon for those who have encroached and for those who sold the lands, please find a way of getting your money back, because the government is going to take them and use them for the right purpose,” she added.
Her comments follows, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Interior Minister, has provided a thorough account of the destruction caused by heavy rains on June 29 in Ghana’s capital Accra.
According to the Interior Minister, more than 7,700 households were displaced with 38,802 people affected, while seven persons are still missing.
The minister disclosed that the downpour inundated several communities with thousands of residents in 18 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, the Interior Minister according to reports detailed, that” 25 communities were impacted by the flooding, with Ga East, Ledzokuku, Ayawaso Central, Ga Central, Ga West, Ablekuma North, Ningo-Prampram, Weija-Gbawe, Ga South, Adenta, Krowor, Okaikwei South, Okaikwei North, Tema West, Tema Metropolitan, La Dade-Kotopon and Kpone-Katamanso among the hardest-hit assemblies.
Providing a breakdown of the figures, Muntaka disclosed that Ga East recorded 2,000 displaced persons from 400 households, with six people reported missing and five confirmed deaths.
Ledzokuku recorded 1,200 displaced persons from 240 households and one death, while Ayawaso Central registered 3,021 displaced persons from 605 households, one missing person and three deaths.
He added that Ga Central recorded 1,811 displaced persons from 363 households, while Ga West had 2,300 displaced persons from 460 households, with neither assembly recording any deaths or missing persons.
The Minister further revealed that Ablekuma North recorded 651 displaced persons from 131 households, Weija-Gbawe 2,500 displaced persons from 500 households, Ga South 2,100 displaced persons from 420 households, Adenta 1,850 displaced persons from 370 households, Krowor 6,500 displaced persons from 1,300 households, Okaikwei South 701 displaced persons from 141 households, and Okaikwei North 2,620 displaced persons from 524 households.
In Tema West, 3,450 people from 690 households were displaced, with three fatalities recorded, while Tema Metropolitan Assembly recorded 3,601 displaced persons from 721 households. La Dade-Kotopon recorded 2,020 displaced persons from 404 households, and Kpone-Katamanso recorded 1,100 displaced persons from 220 households without any deaths”.
He added, “When you put all these numbers together, we have a total of 7,761 households that were displaced with 38,802 individuals affected with seven persons still missing as of this morning”.
Watch the video below:
“We have identified about six wetlands for restoration. Therefore, those who have encroached on these wetlands should make arrangements to recover their investments because government will reclaim the lands for their intended purpose.” — Gizella Tetteh Agbotui, Drputy Minister… pic.twitter.com/MrDsBYfjbk
— GTV Ghana (@GTV_Ghana) June 30, 2026
