馃嚞馃嚟GhanaWest Africa
Squatters and criminals impede Accra flood control efforts, says Techiman South MP
via GhanaWeb1 min read
Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, Member of Parliament for Techiman South, stated that squatters and criminal elements are obstructing flood mitigation projects under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development GARID Programme. The former Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development indicated that encroachers have occupied sites designated for flood control interventions in Accra, preventing contractors and agencies from accessing these areas. Speaking after a meeting between Parliament鈥檚 Works and Housing Committee, Ministry officials, and the World Bank, Korsah highlighted that these access issues are a significant barrier to the project's advancement. He noted that some individuals occupying the sites are described as criminals with weapons, who have confronted workers. Korsah emphasized that the GARID programme, supported by the World Bank, has secured funding, and delays are not due to financial limitations. He questioned the inability of state authorities to clear these encroached sites to allow critical flood control works to proceed, especially given the recurring floods affecting communities. The GARID programme aims to enhance flood risk management and resilience in flood-prone areas of the Greater Accra Region.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadBetty Krosby Mensah, former Member of Parliament for Afram Plains North, commended the Mahama-led government for evacuating Ghanaian citizens from South Africa. In an interview on July 26, 2026, she expressed pride in the government's swift response to rescue citizens affected by xenophobic attacks, stating it saved Ghanaians from humiliation. Krosby Mensah highlighted the government's consistent interventions to improve citizens' lives, citing the Ghana Medical Trust Fund as an example of an initiative providing quality healthcare. Her comments coincide with Ghana completing the final evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, with some evacuees expected to arrive on July 26, 2026, and the remainder on July 27, 2026, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement issued on July 25, 2026.
Private legal practitioner Andy Appiah-Kubi stated that Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP, knew he would be convicted before the Accra High Court delivered its judgment in the Samreboi illegal mining case. Appiah-Kubi, who previously represented Wontumi, said Wontumi informed him of the expected 20-year jail sentence prior to the ruling. Despite the conviction, Appiah-Kubi believes the court's decision was flawed, arguing it incorrectly treated Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining as the same legal entity, which he claims is contrary to company law. He stated that this legal distinction will be a key ground for appeal. Wontumi was sentenced on July 20, 2026, to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour for illegal mining-related offenses, and his legal team plans to appeal the conviction and sentence.
Hannah Awadzi, Founder and Executive Director of the Inclusive Family Alliance, has called on Ghanaians to abandon superstitions and stigma associated with disability. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Awadzi stated that harmful beliefs linking disability to bad omens perpetuate discrimination and social exclusion. She emphasized that disability is not a curse and can affect anyone, urging a societal shift in attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities. Awadzi highlighted that changing public perception is crucial for fostering inclusion and enhancing opportunities for individuals with disabilities, noting that removing superstition is the initial step towards policy and opportunity improvements. She stressed that progressive societies implement systems and programs to support Persons with Disabilities and encouraged Ghanaians to view inclusion as a collective responsibility. The Inclusive Family Alliance collaborates with various entities to promote positive attitudes towards disability and assists parents of children with disabilities by offering information and creating supportive, stigma-free environments.