Ms Ocloo who disclosed this at her maiden meeting with all newly confirmed and sworn in MMDCEs in Accra yesterday said the issue of flooding continued to affect lives and property and something drastic must be done about it.
The meeting was to discuss the way forward in the development and improvement of lives of the people in the region.
The minister noted that, there was a need for waterways to be decongested, while enforcing planning regulations in addition to de-silting drains regularly.
She said this would however, require a coordinated and sustained effort especially among the 17 MMDAs under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project.
“Let us act decisively and ensure we implement long-term solutions rather than reactive interventions. In the coming days, we will be embarking on a demolition exercise particularly at the Ramsar site,” she stated.
The Minister added that the demolition exercise would take place in some areas like Tema, Kpone Kantamanso, La and Teshie.
Ms Ocloo also decried the poor sanitation conditions in the capital, stressing that sanitation remains one of the most pressing challenges in the region, from poor waste disposal practices, open defecation to illegal dumping and choked drains.
“These issues have become a blot on our efforts to present Accra as a modern and livable capital,” she said.
She therefore called on all MMDCEs to take proactive and innovative steps as well as intensify public education, strengthening enforcement of sanitation by-laws, and collaborate with public and private sector stakeholders to address sanitation in their various jurisdictions.
The Minister commended the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly for their recent exercise to decongest some major markets and the Central Business District (CBD) to ease congestion, traffic flow and sanitation problems.
She also called on other assemblies especially Tema Metropolitan Assembly to emulate the works of AMA and KoKMA.
“Revenue remains the lifeblood of our local development; I therefore encourage all MMDAs to adopt innovative revenue mobilisation strategies. One such example is the cashless system implemented by KOKMA. I urge you to study this model and explore ways to replicate and tailor it to your respective areas. Technology can greatly enhance transparency, efficiency, and public trust in our operations,” she stated.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
