The Assembly Member for the Odawna Sahara Electoral Area, Hendrick Noble Kinnah, has warned residents occupying waterways and other unauthorised locations not to seek political intervention if authorities begin demolishing illegal structures following the devastating June 30 floods.
Speaking to Bernard Avle during an assessment of the flood-hit area on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Mr Kinnah said enforcement of planning and environmental laws must take precedence over personal appeals, stressing that residents should take responsibility for where they build.
“The infrastructure is in places they are not supposed to be. Please, this time, advise yourself. If an action is taken, don’t come and call me to speak for you,” he said.
Kinnah said he would not intervene on behalf of anyone found to have built on waterways or other prohibited areas.
“If you know you’ve been in the wrong area, please don’t come and call me because I’m also here as a responsible citizen to make sure that we do the right thing,” he said.
His comments come as authorities continue assessing the impact of Monday’s floods, which inundated several communities in Accra, displaced thousands of residents and caused widespread destruction to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.
Kinnah also called on Ghanaians to protect rivers, streams and other water bodies, warning that encroachment and environmental degradation continue to increase the risk of flooding.
“I want every Ghanaian to respect our water bodies,” he said. “If you don’t respect your water body, don’t think that you will even have clean water to drink.”
“From upstream up to the sea, wherever you are, please respect our water bodies. Because of that, we live,” he added.
The Assembly Member further urged the Ministry responsible for Works and Housing and other relevant institutions to strengthen measures to safeguard waterways from encroachment.
“The water, the rivers and our water bodies belong to them. They should set up committees—whatever they have to do—to make sure they protect our water bodies,” he said.
His remarks add to growing calls for stricter enforcement of planning regulations and the protection of waterways following the latest floods, which have renewed concerns over illegal construction and poor environmental management in parts of the capital.
