Story by Christopher Tetter
Engineer Davor Wonder, Head of the Works Department at the Denkyembour District Assembly in Akwatia, Eastern Region, has cautioned against putting up buildings on wetlands and waterways, stating that such developments are a major cause of flooding.
Speaking to the media during the Second Annual General Meeting and Capacity Building Conference of the Local Government Services Association of Physical Planners (LoGSAPP) in Kumasi, Engr. Davor referenced Section 97 of the Local Governance Act, which empowers Assemblies to demolish any structures that obstruct waterways.
The 2025 AGM, themed “Planning for Resilient, Inclusive, Climate-Sensitive and Disaster-Free Communities for Efficient Infrastructure Development and Service Delivery”, focused on strengthening local planning systems for sustainable development in Ghana.
Resist and report
Engr. Davor, who also serves as the National President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-Ghana), urged community members to resist and report attempts by developers to build in wetlands and warned that such actions divert natural water flow, leading to floods and property damage.
He emphasized that many of these developments are illegal, with developers often bypassing proper procedures. “They don’t wait for full permit approval. Instead, they use application receipts and site plans as if they were valid building permits,” he said. He stressed, “Site plans and application receipts are not building permits.”
Consequences
Engr. Davor advised the public to ensure they obtain genuine building permits, duly signed by authorized physical planners from the Assembly and further warned that developers who ignore the law will face its full consequences.
Reiterating the Assembly’s responsibility, he stated that any structure found obstructing a waterway will be demolished, as mandated by the Local Governance Act.
He called for a collective effort in preventing unauthorized developments and encouraged citizens to act as “watchdogs” by reporting illegal constructions to the District Assemblies, Regional Ministers, the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, and the Ministry of Local Government.
“While individuals or communities cannot demolish buildings themselves, they have the legal right and civic duty to report such cases for prompt action,” he concluded.
