Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has entreated chiefs who authorized the sale of parts of the Sakumo Ramsar site to private developers to compensate the affected individuals with alternate lands.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, May 28, she extended empathy to the victims; however, she emphasized the necessity of the demolition exercise.

“I empathise with them, but they should be able to stay off the Ramsar site so that we can all be free. Let me also plead with their chiefs—if there is a need for them to relocate the lands for the owners, they should do so, so that we will all have our peace," she said.

Unauthorized structures along waterways in Tema, Klagon, and the Sakumo Ramsar site were torn down on Tuesday, May 27.

The demolition exercise, which has been launched by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC), is intended to manage flooding, enforce environmental regulations in the region, and also revive natural watercourses.

The operation comes shortly after the recent devastating floods that hit parts of Accra on Sunday, May 18.

In a meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on Tuesday, May 26, the Greater Accra Regional Minister revealed plans to station a task force within parts of the country to avert a possible erection of the demolished structures.

“We will continue with the demolition exercise at Sakumono and Tema. In some places where the demolition was done, they have raised the structure again. So we are going to cause an arrest. We are not going to leave a single structure; all of them will go down."

“After the demolition, we are going to put a task force in place who will be working 24 hours to protect the place,” Linda Ocloo said.

She bemoaned the non-compliance by some of the affected individuals, although they were given notice prior to the exercise.

“They are aware. In fact, there has been an engagement, they are very much aware of this exercise. Some of the buildings have notices of ‘Stop Work,’” she stated.

Critics have highlighted lapses in preparedness for the demolition exercise, pointing at the use of lightweight machinery unsuited for the terrain and a temporary fuel shortage that caused delays on-site.

However, the Director General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Major (Rtd) Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, has indicated that the exercise has achieved its objectives.