Physical Planners laud President Mahama's decision to clear structures on waterways

President Mahama’s decision to demolish unauthorized structures on waterways continue to attract lots of commendation from various quarters.

The Local Government Service Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP) is the latest to commend the president in this regard.

The Association says it acknowledges the President’s proactive approach, emphasizing that such a decision is essential for protecting the environment and ensuring residents’ safety.

Planner Gifty Nyarko, the Interim National President of LoGSAPP, stated in an interview with the media last Tuesday that the commitment would significantly contribute to fostering sustainable urban growth and creating livable cities for future generations.

Background
President Mahama, in his speech while addressing the National Eid-ul-Fitr prayers in Accra on Monday, condemned the illegal construction of buildings on waterways, attributing the practice to the devastating floods in many communities across the country.

He described the illegal construction of structures on waterways as "a deeply troubling issue" that causes consistent flooding due to reckless disregard for planning regulations and environmental safety.

President Mahama stated that this situation is a major contributor to the devastating consequences faced by the nation and emphasized that "this must stop".

He further stressed that "those structures would be pulled down, and we will not allow a few selfish individuals to endanger the lives and livelihoods of countless others."

Bold decision
In this regard, Pln. Nyarko noted that President Mahama's bold decision would not only help stop flooding but also create resilient cities for the future, protect wildlife systems, and safeguard natural habitats.

She indicated that the move would also facilitate the achievement of Goals 11 and 13 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Legal framework
Pln. Nyarko explained that the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925) empowers the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to regulate and control land use and spatial planning to ensure sustainable development, highlighting Section 121 of Act 925, which specifically addresses unauthorized development.

According to her, the law mandates and authorizes officers of the Assembly to remove, prohibit, or demolish any unauthorized structure that creates environmental nuisance, interferes with the use of public spaces, including resource lands, urban utility spaces, riparian buffer zones, natural parks, forests, urban parks, recreational areas, health zones, infrastructure rights of way, and areas of cultural or historical interest, or when it violates zoning laws, building codes and other land-use regulations.

Challenges
Pln. Nyarko expressed concern that the MMDAs face major challenges, including insufficient enforcement capacity within the Assemblies, lack of adequate resources, personnel and advanced tools to monitor and effectively carry out their mandates.

Additionally, "the Physical Planning and Works Departments responsible for preventing illegal structures face significant limitations due to the absence of vehicles and modern technological tools for regular inspections," she said.

On his part, Pln. Ashmond Baffoe, the General Secretary of LoGSAPP, stated, "We planners are poised to support President Mahama's action," and called for stronger legal processes, saying, "Violators sometimes exploit legal loopholes to delay demolitions when necessary."

Hence, he emphasized the need for the various Assemblies to employ lawyers to assist the technocrats during law enforcement and prosecution stages.

He added political interference was another factor complicating and hindering progress of their legally mandated duties.

Systemic changes
Pln. Ruth Agyeiwaa Badu, the Women's Commissioner of LOGSAPP mentioned the need for systemic changes in areas such as political interference and the strengthening of departments and agencies to ensure the right things are done.

"Let’s give planning a priority because the current market fire disasters are a result of non-compliance with planning regulations and disregard of those regulations," she said.

Pln. Agyeiwaa Badu indicated that people affected by fires and other disasters are often women and children, therefore suggested adequate funding support from the Assemblies for urban planning activities, as well as educating citizens on the functions of various departments of the Assembly.

Pln. Agyeiwaa Badu also stressed the importance of community involvement by the Assemblies in the conduct of their enforcement exercises for fairness, devoid of political interference or corruption.

Comprehensive strategies
She hoped that it will facilitate comprehensive strategies, such as zoning regulations, environmental protection, and infrastructure improvement, which are key to curbing unauthorized developments and minimizing disaster risks.

Pln. Kwabena Asiedu Bediako, the Vice President of LoGSAPP, was of the view that accurate data on land features is required to determine the behavior of the land, including the risks of flooding, erosion, and soil instability.

He added that more detailed topographical studies, including soil type, slope, and water flow, are critical to ensuring the safety of the land for building resilient cities.