More than 18,000 residents could be affected by an impending demolition exercise around the campus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, according to the Ashanti Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Alhaji Ibrahim Nadiru.
The warning follows a directive by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, ordering landlords and private developers operating along the upstream and downstream sections of the KNUST enclave to present their building permits to the Asokwa and Oforikrom Municipal Engineers or vacate their premises.
The directive was issued during the minister’s inspection of flood-prone communities and hotspots in and around the university following recent flooding incidents on campus.
According to Dr Amoakohene, the flooding at KNUST was largely caused by the actions of individuals and developers who ignored environmental and planning regulations by constructing buildings on waterways.
He subsequently instructed municipal authorities to identify all structures situated on waterways and demand valid building permits from owners. Buildings found to be operating without the necessary approvals, he said, would be demolished.
The minister also appealed to the public, particularly Ghanaians living abroad who invest in real estate projects, to seek proper engineering and planning advice before embarking on construction projects.
Expressing concern over the proliferation of unauthorized developments, Dr Amoakohene questioned how several illegal structures had emerged without detection by local authorities. He noted that the current Municipal Engineer for Asokwa has been in office for six months, while his predecessor served for 12 years.
He disclosed plans to petition the Local Government Service over what he described as a failure by the Assembly to effectively carry out its supervisory and oversight responsibilities.
“The safety of residents and adherence to environmental regulations must take precedence over unchecked development,” the minister stressed.
Meanwhile, KNUST Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Asamoah, said the university had taken proactive measures ahead of the rainy season to mitigate the impact of flooding.
He explained that although heavy rains caused flooding on campus, water levels receded quickly due to the university’s green spaces and drainage management efforts.
According to him, rainfall that ended around 10:50 a.m. had completely drained by 12:12 p.m., demonstrating the effectiveness of the measures put in place.
Professor Asamoah further advocated for annual desilting exercises and emphasized that structures obstructing waterways behind the university would be removed to ensure the free flow of water and reduce future flood risks.
