Edmund Agboh
The Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA) has called on residents, landowners, and developers to desist from encroaching on streams and waterways, warning that such practices are worsening the perennial flooding challenges confronting the municipality.
Speaking at a town hall meeting at the Church of Pentecost at Haatso, on Friday, 22 August 2025, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Edmund Agboh, said indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the filling of watercourses were major contributors to the recurrent floods that continue to destroy livelihoods, property, and infrastructure.
“Flooding is undoubtedly one of our major challenges as an Assembly. This, as we all know, occurs mainly as a result of our own activities: encroachment on watercourses for habitation and business purposes, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, which chokes our already narrow gutters and drains,” he noted.
“I am pleading with all our traditional authorities, families, landowners, and prospective developers to desist from filling waterways or buffers of streams,” he added.
The meeting, which brought together local government officials, traditional leaders, opinion leaders, and residents, served as a platform to present the Assembly’s performance on the 2025 Mid-Year Annual Action Plan and Composite Budget, while also validating the Needs Assessment for the 2026–2029 Medium-Term Development Plan.
The Municipal Development Planning Officer, Daniel Baah Tenkrong, highlighted key achievements under the 2025 Action Plan, noting that 100 percent of completed projects included the construction of a wall around Abokobi Senior High School (Phase 2) and the renovation of a two-storey six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities for Taifa St. Dominic Roman Catholic Basic School.
He said these projects, funded by the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and the MP’s Common Fund, respectively, underscored the Assembly’s commitment to strengthening educational infrastructure.
In addition, the Assembly reported full completion of rigid pavement works at Dome Central Market (Phase 1) and the construction of two 1.2-metre pipe culverts within the municipality.
Ongoing projects, Mr. Tenkrong explained, stood at 77 percent implementation, with the remaining 23 percent yet to be executed.
The interactive forum gave residents the chance to question officials on development priorities, resource use, and accountability. Concerns ranged from infrastructure and drainage to healthcare, agriculture, revenue mobilisation, and financial management.
Mr Agboh, who chaired the meeting, thanked stakeholders for their contributions and reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to inclusive governance.
He urged residents to remain patient as the municipality continues to roll out its development agenda, assuring them that their concerns would guide policy implementation in the coming years.
By Stella Botchwey