馃嚞馃嚟GhanaWest Africa
Urban planning expert warns against unchecked construction on hills, citing environmental disaster risks
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Professor Martin Oteng-Ababio, a senior urban planning expert and Board Chairman of the Forest Plantation Development Fund, has urged the government to immediately ban unplanned residential development on hilltops. He warned that indiscriminate clearing of vegetation on hills for housing exposes communities to mudflows, landslides, and severe erosion, especially with intensifying rainfall, creating conditions for a major environmental disaster. Prof. Oteng-Ababio cautioned that continued development on hills like Aburi, Bortianor, and McCarthy ranges without proper planning poses a serious threat, as vegetation removal leaves topsoil vulnerable to erosion. He highlighted that many hills being developed are near earthquake fault zones, increasing risks. He also noted that between 92 and 95 percent of some hilly landscapes in Accra are unsuitable for residential development, yet construction persists. Prof. Oteng-Ababio stated that perennial flooding in Accra is exacerbated by the destruction of hillsides and wetlands, as vegetation removal accelerates stormwater runoff and silt from degraded slopes clogs drains. He attributed the problem to weak enforcement of planning regulations and poor coordination among land administration institutions. He called for stricter enforcement of planning laws, restoration of degraded hilltops and wetlands, and sanctions against officials who approve developments in environmentally sensitive areas.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
The Accra High Court has granted an extension for plea negotiations in the Ghana Export-Import EXIM Bank case involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP. The court adjourned proceedings to July 27, 2026, to allow more time for discussions between the defense and the Attorney General鈥檚 Department. Wontumi and others face charges related to an alleged scheme that caused financial loss to the EXIM Bank, ranging from approximately GH垄14.3 million to GH垄30 million, through actions including presenting a forged receipt, fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution. Wontumi's legal team, led by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, initiated the plea-bargaining process, which could involve a guilty plea in exchange for reduced charges, repayment with interest, or other terms. Wontumi, Wontumi Farms Limited, and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako previously pleaded not guilty to the charges on May 18, 2026.
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