Nearly one-sixth of the legally protected buffer zones along major drainage channels in parts of the Greater Accra Region has been overtaken by unauthorised developments, a new assessment by the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project has revealed.
The findings come in the wake of the recent devastating floods that displaced thousands of residents and claimed lives in the capital, reinforcing concerns over the impact of uncontrolled development on flood management.
The study, which examined developments within designated drainage corridors across 16 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), found that approximately 16 per cent of the mandatory 25-metre drainage buffer zones had been encroached upon.
Presenting the assessment on Friday, July 3, GARID Project Coordinator and member of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, Kojo Ohene Safo, explained that the exercise analysed changes in development between 2022 and 2026 using geospatial data and field assessments.
He said the review focused on the legally required 25-metre setback on both sides of major drains, a planning requirement intended to preserve waterways, facilitate maintenance works and reduce flood risks.
According to the assessment, the number of structures erected within protected drainage corridors continues to rise across many parts of the region despite existing planning regulations.
Mr Ohene Safo noted that while some localities recorded little or no additional encroachment, the broader trend points to increasing pressure on drainage infrastructure.
He cited Ablekuma Central as one of the few exceptions, where six structures identified within the protected buffer zone in 2022 remained unchanged during the latest assessment period.
However, he said most of the assemblies studied recorded significant increases in illegal developments.
Source:myjoyonline.com
