A joint enforcement operation led by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Tema West Municipal Assembly is underway at the Sakumo Ramsar Site, targeting illegal structures within the Golf Course enclave of the ecologically sensitive wetland.
The three-day demolition exercise, which began on Tuesday, May 5, represents one of the most coordinated actions yet against encroachment that authorities say has severely worsened flooding in surrounding communities and placed the internationally protected site at risk.
Officials attribute the growing drainage crisis to illegal buildings constructed along key waterways within the Ramsar site. These structures, they say, have obstructed natural water flow, with devastating consequences for nearby residents each rainy season.
“The presence of illegal buildings on critical waterways has significantly obstructed drainage channels, exacerbating flooding,” officials stated, warning that the situation has become untenable as the rainy season approaches. Restoring natural watercourses, they added, is both an environmental imperative and an urgent public safety matter.
Authorities stressed that this week’s exercise is not an isolated response but the latest phase of sustained enforcement actions carried out over several years. Despite repeated warnings, formal notices, and earlier demolitions, encroachment has continued unabated, necessitating a more decisive, security-backed operation.
The Sakumo Ramsar Site holds international ecological importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, but has long faced pressure from unregulated construction. Officials expressed concern that disregard for planning regulations endangers both the fragile ecosystem and the communities that depend on the site’s natural drainage functions.
Security personnel have been deployed to maintain order throughout the exercise and prevent confrontations. Authorities urge affected property owners to cooperate fully with demolition teams.
The operation is expected to run through Thursday, with officials signalling that enforcement will continue beyond the three-day window as part of a broader commitment to protecting Ghana’s Ramsar sites and reducing flood vulnerability in the Greater Accra Region.
