By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Accra, July 25, GNA — Mrs. Gifty Ofori-Yeboah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eco Impact Network, has called for strict sanctions against public officials who knowingly approve illegal developments in waterways and flood-prone areas which continue to expose communities to avoidable disasters.
Mrs. Ofori-Yeboah, who doubles as an environmentalist, said experts responsible for building approvals and environmental regulation should face suspension, dismissal or prosecution depending on the gravity of their misconduct.
She said public officials occupy positions of trust and are expected to protect lives, property and the environment by ensuring that planning and environmental laws are fully enforced.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Mrs. Ofori-Yeboah stressed that where negligence or abuse of office contributes to the loss of lives, destruction of property or displacement of residents, authorities must ensure officials are personally held accountable under the law.
She said holding officials accountable would strengthen public confidence in state institutions and discourage corruption and negligence in the building permit approval process, noting that flooding in Ghana was not caused by heavy rainfall alone but by a combination of poor environmental management, weak enforcement of planning regulations and indiscriminate human activities.
Mrs. Ofori-Yeboah explained that poor sanitation remained one of the leading contributors to urban flooding, saying that the dumping of refuse into drains and gutters causes blockages that prevent the free flow of storm water during heavy rainfall, resulting in overflowing drains and widespread flooding.
She urged households, businesses and market operators to adopt responsible waste disposal practices and support regular community sanitation activities to keep drainage systems free from waste.
The Eco Impact Network CEO acknowledged that inadequate drainage infrastructure also contributed to flooding, emphasising, however, that engineering designs must be based on scientific assessments of rainfall intensity, water flow and future climate conditions.
She said bridges, culverts and drainage channels should be designed with adequate capacity to accommodate increasing volumes of runoff associated with rapid urbanisation and changing weather patterns, saying that weak enforcement had allowed many illegal structures to remain in waterways despite existing planning and environmental regulations.
The environmental expert said consistent enforcement of these laws would significantly reduce the frequency and severity of flood disasters while protecting investments in public infrastructure.
She recommended that authorities reward individuals and communities that demonstrate exemplary environmental stewardship while ensuring that those who deliberately violate sanitation and planning regulations face appropriate penalties.
She said a balanced approach would encourage responsible behaviour and promote a culture of environmental compliance across the country, appealing to government agencies and community members to work together to safeguard waterways and enforce planning regulations without fear or favour.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Email: [email protected]