The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Akweley Ocloo, has indicated her preparedness to sack any Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive (MMDCE) found to have authorised the construction of buildings on waterways and other unauthorised areas.
She warned that local government officials who issue permits for developments in flood-prone zones will face severe sanctions.
Speaking to the media on Friday, July 10, during the first day of the National General Clean-up exercise, the Regional Minister insisted that she is ready to make an example of any MMDCE found culpable to serve as a deterrent to others.
“I’m more than ready. In fact, I just want one person as a scapegoat. That is what I’m looking for. Just one person as a scapegoat,” she stated.
Her comments come after President John Dramani Mahama directed that MMDCEs who approve buildings on waterways should be held accountable.
According to Linda Ocloo, some owners of structures marked for demolition have claimed they obtained permits from local authorities, prompting investigations into the officials who granted such approvals.
“If we have that permit and find out that there’s this particular MCE who is responsible, why not? That person will be fired,” she said.
She disclosed that demolition exercises are already underway in some parts of the region to remove unauthorised structures and restore waterways, adding that affected persons have been given timelines to vacate.
The National General Clean-up exercise, which began on Friday, is being held in seven flood-affected regions as part of government’s post-flood measures to clear blocked drains, improve sanitation and reduce the risk of future disasters.
The exercise, organised under the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, is being carried out in two phases, with security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and waste management companies leading activities on the first day, while the general public is expected to join the exercise on Saturday, July 11.
