Mr. Guggisberg Fiagbenu, the Assembly Member of the Adidome Central Electoral Area, has called on the government to take a more active role in land and town planning across the country to address the growing threat of flooding in urban and rural communities.
His call follows recent flood incidents in parts of the country, which he attributes to the absence of a comprehensive town planning framework.
According to Mr. Fiagbenu, the lack of a proper planning scheme has led to the unchecked sale and development of lands, including those situated in flood-prone areas and waterways.
“There’s currently no well-structured town planning scheme to guide land transactions in most urban and rural area of this country,” he stated. “This gap has led to individuals unknowingly purchasing waterlogged lands and constructing buildings on waterways, which in turn worsens the flooding situation.”
Mr. Fiagbenu is urging the central government to revise various Legislative Instruments (L.Is) to regulate land planning and usage.
He emphasized that such a legal framework should be readily accessible at all district assemblies and serve as a guide for both land buyers and sellers.
The Assembly Member mentioned that government should consider relocating structures already on waterways by assisting with a reasonable percentage of resources while land owners are engaged and sensitised to shun selling lands on waterways.
Focusing on his electoral area, the Assembly Member expressed concern over the inadequate drainage infrastructure in Adidome, Central Tongu.
He highlighted that the town is currently served by only a single-lane drainage system, which is insufficient to handle heavy rainfall and prevent flooding.
“Adidome’s drainage system is simply not enough to deal with the volume of water we receive during the rainy season,” he lamented. “We need urgent government intervention to upgrade the drainage infrastructure to safeguard lives and property.”
Mr. Fiagbenu further pointed out that several buildings in the area have been constructed in forms that obstruct natural waterways, exacerbating the flood risk to homes, farms, schools, and public spaces.
He therefore called on the Town Planning Committee of the Central Tongu District Assembly to act swiftly and address the planning irregularities contributing to the community’s flooding challenges.
Story by Kekeli Blamey
