Harness wetlands into tourist attractions - Elikem Kotoko

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, has attributed Ghana’s continuous flooding to indiscipline and building on wetlands.

He advised citizens to adopt more responsible and environmentally friendly practices.

Kotoko condemned the new normal of property owners tiling and their entire compound, which according to him prevents rainwater from soaking into the ground and instead channels it to drains which increases the risk of floods.

Speaking on Channel One TVs Breakfast Daily on July 6, 2026, he said, “people put up structures, for instance, and they think it is very fanciful, it's my own money and therefore I need to tile the whole compound, which makes it difficult for water to even percolate in that house when it rains, which means that you are virtually washing it into the drainage or transferring it to the next

person.”

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Elikem Kotoko also criticized the encroachment of Ramser sites and wetlands through land reclamation, noting that countries such as United Kingdom has successfully developed infrastructure around wetlands through proper planning and investment.

“Now, there are those who are also going to Ramsar site, wetlands, etc., filling those places and then putting up structures. I visited the Canary Wharf in the UK, for instance, where they have been able to control the water and build major facilities around there and that Ramsar site is being put to great use,” he said.

According to him, Ghana’s challenge is not only financial but also that of discipline and accountability of use of public funds.

“What stops us from doing the same? What is stopping us from doing the same is not even the political will, but the financial costs. Doing projects of this nature comes with a huge financial outlay. When we go back, for instance, to GARRID, where we were told how much was spent on consultancy, how much was spent on trainings, and the patents was what was spent on the real work itself, it tells you the African problem is discipline, again, “he stated

“So, money is given and probably 70% is spent on very needless things or diverted, then only a patent is spent on the actual work. And then in the end, we come round to complain and pretend to play saint and want to say this, I have said this many times and you know me for it, one, I'm very harsh, two, I'm very blunt, I'm very passionate about things of this nature. Because I keep saying that whatever affects somebody tomorrow, you may not know how it has affected you indirectly," he added.

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Kotoko called for dedication to environmental protection instead of actions that contribute to environmental degradation, adding that the consequences of degrading the environment and poor governance affects everyone.

“I have always used Galamsey as an example, that when even in this flood, for instance, let's assume that Ibrahim and I may not have lost anything and we do not feel concerned. However, there's an innocent mother or father who has lost his innocent child. Maybe I have a daughter and he has a daughter to a boy. Probably in two, three decades, that girl or that boy who lost their life was supposed to be the future husband of our daughter. Now, if your daughter is no longer getting a husband, you begin to be blaming your family in the house that the ancestors have, but probably you didn't care enough. And it is the reason why we must care about other things,” he said

He stressed that Ghana cannot continue to repeat same mistakes while expecting different results in the fight against flooding and other environmental challenges.

“Be genuinely committed to fighting them rather than pretense and say, we're doing this for the cameras and all that. It worries me and it pains me because we cannot continue doing the same things differently and expect that things will change,” he stated.

Watch video below:

Deputy CEO of the Forestry Commission, @ElikemKotoko, says allegations surrounding the attempted access of a frozen bank account raise serious concerns that must be investigated.

📺 Watch here: https://t.co/YcPoSleIgC#BreakfastDaily #ChannelOneTV #ChannelOneNews #GhanaNews… pic.twitter.com/1Z7DQfoIxC

— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) July 6, 2026