Ellen Ama Daaku, Aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has defended the demolition of buildings constructed on wetlands in Accra, saying she does not sympathise with developers who ignored repeated government warnings.
Speaking on GHToday with Lily Mohammed on Wednesday, January 28, Ama Daaku acknowledged the financial losses involved but emphasised that legality and public safety must take precedence.
“For me, I find it difficult to actually empathise and sympathise with them because I felt they failed to do due diligence,” she said.
Ama Daaku stressed that government policy on wetlands has been clear for decades, warning against building in marshy areas, lagoons, and flood-prone zones. She questioned why developers continued to ignore these longstanding rules.
“I still find it difficult to understand how rational thinking people will pick their money and go and buy land there,” she said.
The aide linked illegal construction directly to Accra’s perennial flooding problem, noting that filling lagoons exacerbates waterlogging during heavy rains.
“They have filled the lagoon, and when the rains start, we will return to the same flooding story again,” she warned.
Ama Daaku also criticised local authorities for delayed enforcement, pointing out that the demolished structures did not appear overnight. “It didn’t take 24 hours for that building to reach that level. Why allow it to get there before pulling it down?”
While calling for stricter enforcement and proactive monitoring, she urged residents to take responsibility for where they choose to build. “We must act early, but people must also take responsibility for where they choose to build,” she said.
The demolitions, which have sparked public debate, target apartments and private properties built on lagoons and marshy lands, areas designated as non-developable due to their role in flood management.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh / Barbara Yeboah
