Waterway encroachment: A threat we must confront

In recent years, the persistent tragedy of flooding across the country has evolved from a seasonal inconvenience into a national emergency.

From Accra to Kumasi, the story is the same: lives disrupted, properties destroyed, and, tragically, lives lost.

At the heart of this crisis lies a problem we have long ignored but can no longer afford to overlook, indiscriminate building on waterways.

It is both alarming and disheartening that despite repeated warnings from urban planners, environmental experts, and local authorities, construction continues unabated on rivers, streams, and natural drainage paths.

These waterways, which serve as nature’s channels for excess rainwater, are being choked by concrete, debris, and human settlement.

The consequences are predictable yet devastating.

Flooding is not an act of fate; it is often the direct result of human action.

When buildings obstruct waterways and rainwater has nowhere to go it spills into homes, markets, and streets, turning productive spaces into disaster zones.

The events of recent rainy seasons should serve as a sobering reminder that the cost of inaction or worse, complicity is far too high.

Equally troubling is the apparent breakdown in enforcement. Regulations governing land use and construction are clear.

Yet, enforcement remains weak, inconsistent, and in some cases, compromised. How do structures rise in clearly designated watercourses without intervention? This question demands urgent answers.

Authorities must move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate the political will to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.

However, the responsibility does not rest solely with government institutions.

Citizens, too, must reflect on their role in this unfolding crisis.

The demand for affordable housing and commercial space is understandable, but it cannot justify endangering lives.

Ignorance can no longer be an excuse in an era where information is readily available. Building on waterways is not merely a personal risk it is a public hazard.

We must also confront the broader issue of urban planning. Rapid urbanisation, if left unchecked, will continue to strain our already fragile infrastructure.

There is an urgent need for a coordinated, forward-looking approach that integrates environmental sustainability with development.

This includes preserving natural drainage systems, investing in proper waste management, and expanding resilient infrastructure.

The time for piecemeal solutions has passed. What is required now is decisive, sustained action.

Illegal structures on waterways must be identified and removed, however difficult that process may be.

Support systems should be put in place to assist affected individuals, but the greater good must prevail.

As a nation, we stand at a crossroads. We can either continue down the path of negligence and recurring disaster, or we can choose responsibility, discipline, and foresight. The choice should be clear.

The Ghanaian Times expects the Minister of Works and Housing to follow through on his warning to demolish buildings on waterways.

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