Government Begins Demolition at Weija Ramsar Site After Caitec Defies Presidential Order

Weija, Accra – The government has begun demolishing illegal structures at the Weija Ramsar site after Caitec, a transport and logistics company, failed to reverse unauthorized landfilling in the protected wetland area.

Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo expressed her disappointment during a site inspection on April 10, revealing that Caitec had ignored a presidential directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama on April 4 to restore the wetland and dredge the area at its own cost.

“They were told to scoop all the filling material and dredge the place. We sent them a letter, yet nothing has been done. This is intentional,” Ocloo stated.

Despite having the machinery required to comply, Caitec failed to act, prompting the government to remobilize and commence demolition efforts.

The President’s directive came during his tour of flood-prone areas in Accra as part of flood mitigation efforts ahead of the rainy season. Experts have repeatedly warned that unchecked development on wetlands and floodplains has worsened urban flooding in Accra and other cities.

Recent heavy rains have already caused severe flooding, submerging homes and roads, with the Ghana Meteorological Agency predicting even more intense rains this year.

In response, NADMO has also launched a campaign to demolish structures obstructing waterways and redirect water paths to reduce the risk of further flooding.