All unauthorized structures on the protected Tema Ramsar site will be razed on Monday, August 4, as announced by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC).

Areas to be affected by the demolition exercise include 5, 6, 10, 11, and 12 Communities in Tema, Greater Accra Region.

The hint comes after an unannounced visit to the site earlier this week by Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, revealed ongoing encroachment on the protected wetland.

Speaking to the media, the Minister described the encroachment as “a serious threat to the ecological integrity of the Ramsar Site. This is a protected area, and we cannot allow private developers or individuals to compromise its long-term environmental value”.

One of Ghana’s designated wetlands is the Tema Ramsar Site, the area holds international recognition under the Ramsar Convention. It also helps prevent flooding, keeps water clean, and supports wildlife.

In May, REGSEC pulled down unauthorized structures along waterways at the Sakumo Ramsar site.

The demolition exercise by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) is intended to manage flooding, enforce environmental regulations in the region, and also revive natural watercourses.

The operation, which began on Tuesday, May 27, comes shortly after the recent devastating floods that hit parts of Accra on Sunday, May 18.

In a meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), on Tuesday, May 27, the Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo revealed plans of stationing a task force within the country to avert a possible erection of the demolished structures.

“We will continue with the demolition exercise at Sakumono and Tema. In some places where the demolition was done, they have raised the structure again. So we are going to cause an arrest. We are not going to leave a single structure; all of them will go down,” the minister stated.

“After the demolition, we are going to put a task force in place who will be working 24 hours to protect the place,” she added.

She bemoaned the compliance amongst some of the affected individuals, although they were noticed prior to the exercise.

“They are aware. In fact, there has been an engagement; they are very much aware of this exercise. Some of the buildings have notices of ‘Stop Work’,” she stated.

There is mounting pressure on the government to initiate long-lasting solutions following the recent flood on Sunday, May 18, that wrecked several homes, claimed lives, displaced residents, and disrupted economic activities.

Weija, Kaneshie, Adabraka, Tema, and Adentan-Dodowa are a few of the areas that have been affected by the rains.

President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to tackling Ghana’s persistent flooding challenges by ordering the demolition of illegally constructed buildings blocking waterways.

Speaking at the 2025 National Eid-ul-Fitr celebration at Black Star Square, he blamed the increasing flood disasters on poor urban planning and unauthorized developments in wetlands, waterways, and Ramsar sites.

The President made it clear that his administration would take drastic action against encroachers, stressing that all structures obstructing natural drainage systems would be removed to prevent further destruction.

“I don’t think the exercise lacked [coordination]. For me, the beginning of work was very satisfactory,” he stated.

The government in recent times has become stern on solving the country's sanitation and decongestion challenges.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) embarked on a decongestion exercise in the Central Business District (CBD) in April this year.

The Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, issued a stern caution to traders operating on the pavements.

“Kumasi should expect cooperation, discipline. There is a lot of indiscipline in our metropolis. In all humility, I am going to ensure strict compliance with the Assembly to the by-law that manages our city. If you are selling on the pavement, adjust yourself."

“If you are in the middle of any dual carriageway road, especially within the central business district, please get out of the place. Because from Wednesday, we will get on the street and make sure that we clear Kumasi from all the filth that we see."

“With the decongestion, we will not apply the forces of military men. Everybody wants to sell at Adum, so we will find some ingenious way to keep them in Adum and decongest Adum,” he said.Before the exercise, vehicular movement in the area was at a standstill, as some traders sold their items in the middle of the streets, preventing pedestrians and vehicles from barely moving freely.

Also in Accra, the Accra Mayor, targeting street traders with a 3-day decongestion exercise targeting street traders.

The first phase of the exercise launched on Tuesday, May 20, targeting areas around the AMA Head Office, including Kinbu Road to Railways, ECG Junction to the King Tackie Tawiah Statue, and Opera Square to Adabraka.

Amid the concerns raised by affected traders, the Greater Accra Market Association (GAMA) has declared strong support for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s ongoing decongestion campaign in the Central Business District (CBD).

The issues of congestion compelled the transport operators to threaten a strike action against the government and the Ghana Police Service

They gave authorities until Monday, May 19, to act or face a nationwide protest. However, the strike action was not executed.

According to the operators, the growing encroachment of roads and pavements by traders poses serious safety risks and disrupts the free flow of traffic.

They are demanding the immediate enforcement of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), particularly those relating to trading on roads and pavements.

Under Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), specific provisions prohibit trading activities that obstruct pedestrian and vehicular movement.

These regulations are designed to ensure the safety and free flow of traffic on public roads and pavements.

Meanwhile, a 24-hour city-wide cleaning initiative is set to begin soon, as announced by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Allotey.

Speaking to the media, he shared that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) plans to utilize the Borla Macho III tricycle to drive the operation.

He explained that the Borla Macho III tricycle donated by a Ghanaian electro-mechanical engineering firm, Anointed Engineering Services Ltd, has a hydraulic system that will enhance the efficiency of cleaning activities.

“This morning we are here not to sell a generator but to donate our special product, the Borla Macho III, to the AMA… It’s a one-man-operated tricycle with a hydraulic system that lifts and empties bins, compresses waste internally, and tips at dumping sites without manual contact.

"It’s the perfect tool for urban sanitation, and we believe, as the city improves with the vision of the AMA; this product can help bring sanity into our sanitation system,” he stated.”