REGSEC and Tema West Assembly launch three-day demolition of illegal structures at Sakumo Ramsar Site

A joint operation by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Tema West Municipal Assembly is underway at the Sakumo Ramsar Site, with authorities embarking on a three-day demolition exercise targeting illegal structures within the Golf Course enclave of the ecologically sensitive wetland.

The exercise, which commenced on Tuesday, May 5, marks one of the most coordinated enforcement actions yet against the persistent encroachment that authorities say has significantly worsened flooding in surrounding communities and placed the internationally recognised site under serious threat.

At the heart of the operation is a growing drainage crisis. Officials say illegal buildings constructed along key drainage channels within the Ramsar site have substantially obstructed the natural flow of water, with devastating consequences for nearby residents every rainy season.

"The presence of illegal buildings on critical waterways has significantly obstructed drainage channels, exacerbating flooding in surrounding communities," officials stated, warning that the situation has become untenable as the rainy season sets in.

Authorities emphasised that restoring the natural flow of watercourses is not only an environmental imperative but an urgent public safety matter, with lives and properties increasingly at risk from flooding that could be mitigated through proper land-use compliance.

Officials were at pains to stress that this week's demolition exercise is not a sudden or isolated response. Rather, it represents the latest and most decisive phase of sustained enforcement actions carried out over several years to protect the Sakumo Ramsar Site from the steady creep of unauthorised development.

Despite repeated warnings, formal notices, and earlier demolitions, encroachment has continued unabated, forcing authorities to escalate their response with a more coordinated and security-backed operation.

"This is a continuation of sustained enforcement actions. Despite repeated warnings, notices, and earlier demolitions, encroachment on the land has continued, prompting the need for a more decisive and coordinated response," officials explained.

The Sakumo Ramsar Site holds significant international ecological importance, recognised under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands for its biodiversity and environmental value. It has, however, long been under pressure from human activity, particularly unregulated construction that has steadily encroached on its protected boundaries.

Authorities expressed deep concern that the increasing disregard for planning regulations not only endangers the fragile ecosystem but also directly threatens the safety of communities that depend on the site's natural drainage functions.

Security personnel have been deployed across the site to maintain order throughout the three-day exercise and prevent confrontations between officials and affected property owners.

Authorities are urging all individuals with structures in the affected areas to cooperate fully with demolition teams to ensure a smooth and incident-free operation.

The exercise is expected to run through Thursday, with officials signalling that enforcement will not stop at the end of the three-day window. Further actions are anticipated as part of the government's broader commitment to protecting Ghana's Ramsar sites and reducing the flood vulnerability of communities in the Greater Accra Region.