Accra: Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Weija-Gbawe, Felix Odartey Lamptey, has warned that authorities will take firm action against individuals selling lands in waterways and flood-prone areas following the recent flooding caused by the spillage of the Weija Dam. Speaking on Adom FM's morning show Dwaso Nsem on May 29, 2026, the MCE expressed concern over the increasing construction of buildings in waterlogged areas, saying the situation continues to worsen flooding during heavy rains.
According to Ghana Web, the MCE highlighted the importance of awareness, stating that buyers should be informed about the risks of purchasing land in these areas. 'When people are buying land, they should know that these are waterlogged areas, yet they still go ahead to build there. The dam was created so that water can pass through,' he said. He criticised those selling such lands to unsuspecting buyers, suggesting they should be ashamed of their actions. 'Those who sold those lands should bow their heads in shame for selling to people,' he added.
Lamptey called for collective action from all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, to prevent a repeat of the destruction experienced in affected communities. 'I am calling on all stakeholders to be part of this and not allow this to happen again, just as the Ga Mantse has said,' he noted. He also warned residents living close to waterways and flood-prone zones not to assume they are safe simply because water levels have started receding. 'Even if the water goes down, those staying around those areas should not think they are safe,' he cautioned.
The MCE expressed the Assembly's readiness to implement strict measures to tackle the issue and mitigate future flooding events. 'We are going to be radical about it so this will not happen again,' he stressed. Lamptey clarified that the aim is not just demolition for its own sake, but a shared responsibility to address the problem. 'It's not about demolition for demolition's sake, but we all have a role in what is happening,' he added.
Additionally, Lamptey urged the public to avoid politicising the flooding crisis, emphasizing that the primary focus should be on the residents' suffering. 'I don't want to see this again in my constituency where people suffer whenever it rains heavily. This is not the time for sensationalism,' he added. His remarks coincide with the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II's call for the arrest and prosecution of chiefs involved in the sale of lands situated on waterways and wetlands. The recent spillage of the Weija Dam left several homes and shops in parts of Weija-Gbawe submerged, displacing many residents and causing significant losses.