Men Are Sometimes Masters Of Their Fate

Oh yes, we all sat aloof when sand winning was ongoing on the Weija hills and directly opposite the dam that produces millions of gallons of water of inhabitants therein and thereof.

All the greenery was stripped and the land left bare – thereafter, buildings sprung thereon, yah pure concrete. Meanwhile there were salaried MMDA staff and other Government officials appointed to ensure that the right thing was done. No one takes responsibility in our part of the World – After all, it’s God who gives and takes.

As l write, the Akuapim hills bordering the Greater Accra Region, which nature created to serve as buffer to host rain water and regulate its flow to the sea via Accra township is being “stripped naked” with concrete in the full glare of all who care and care not.

The Assembly sat aloof whilst a portion of the University of Ghana “wetland” on the Toyota Ghana Motors stretch was filled with stones to the brim culminating in the entire stretch getting flooded and causing considerable damage to properties in the neighbourhood.

It is my fervent prayer that the affected property owners “do not give it to God” but take the Assembly on for their loss – oh yes, we need to test the law and if in the unlikely event of they not succeeding, it shall send the right signal and message to the MMDAs and bodies alike to sit up.

Did I hear an MCE in the Republic of Ghana, specifically, in the Greater Accra Region, complaining bitterly of the frustration he’s going through via “directives” from the Jubilee House to halt some demolition, which were being carried out in the public interest and safety?

This reminds me, the Kufuor administration created a whole Ministry – Tourism & Modernization of the Capital City or whatever, to, as it were, modernize Accra and tackle problems therein including floods.

The big blow came when the Minister in charge, the late ‘Obroni’ Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey without looking over his shoulders, came out publicly during a demolition exercise of properties built on waterways, to declare that, affected property owners who can afford would be spared by having the course of water (nature) affecting their properties diverted – l almost collapsed and said to myself, Jake has not only failed, but failed woefully with his administration.

Listen to what Goethe has on the action and inaction of Jake – “NATURE KNOWS NO PAUSE IN PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT, AND ATTACHES HER CURSE ON ALL INACTION”.

Lest, I forget, did l hear the President lamenting after his aerial view of the floods in Accra on Monday and admonishing Ghanaians not to behave like vultures?

Perhaps he has “forgotten himself”, that last year (2025), he lamented over the same floods prompting me to write a piece in The Chronicle titled, AN EPISTLE TO JOHN IV published on March 19, 2025.

Granting, can I respectfully and safely ascribe the accolade VULTURE ONE (1) to the First Gentleman of the land? I dare not, but unfortunately, that’s the reality and plain truth.

For the avoidance of doubt and for the benefit of first timers, I hereby reproduced AN EPISTLE TO JOHN IV below.

If you want to kill any idea in the world today, get a committee working on it” – C. F. Kettering.

John, learnt you’ve set up a committee to delve into the causes of perennial flooding in Accra and its environs. Menua, the causes are not rocket science borne.

– You see the unbridled encroachment on wetlands – google and find out the essence of wetlands and why International Conventions protect the same.

– ?Following from the above, the State is the worse offender – ECG has put up a sub station right on a wetland near the Ahmadiyya Mission at Old Ashongman thereabouts – the funny thing is, there is a sign post erected nearby indicating the area is a wetland.

– ?Further, the parcel of land at Bohye in Ga East where the Police Workshop and Driver, Vehicle & Licensing Authority (DVLA) has been relocated use to be a wetland with sign posts erected same.

– ?There are countless but for space let me touch on the Sakumono Ramsar enclave which has been seriously encroached upon in your full glare and those who matter and ought to know better.

– ?Narrowing it to the frontage of the Regional Maritime University, RMU, where l once schooled, the entire parcel of land which used to harbour rear species of aquatic life is now extinct – Estate developers with the active connivance of the “Chiefs and Elders” and to a degree, the Courts have and continue to invade the said parcel – WHO CARES?

– ?Choked drains – drains have been turned into refuse dumps and no one cares, yah, OPEN DRAINS.

– ?Plastic waste all over – no pragmatic step(s) is being initiated to contain same save lip service – let’s take a clue from Rwanda.

– ?Non adherence to building codes – John, are you aware there is a law which mandates developers to leave open spaces to absorb rain water? Go to West/East Legon, Tema, mention them, entire compounds have either been paved and or tiled – where do you expect the rain water they generate to flow to? Is this a committee work?

– ?Regards the above scenario, the State is the first offender, yah, spearheading this indiscipline. Visit some State facilities – the entire compound paved , WHO CARES?

– ?Water ways encroached upon – yah, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey as Minister for the Beautification of the City or whatever (Nice name) told the whole world that those who had encroached on water ways and can pay will have their mess diverted – l said to myself, ay3 ka – this is what E. P. Whipple had to say, “Nature does not capriciously scatter her secrets as golden gifts to lazy pets and luxurious darlings, BUT imposes tasks when she presents opportunities, and uplifts him whom she would inform. The apple that she drops at the feet of Newton is but a coy invitation to follow her to the stars”.

Goethe adds, “Nature knows no pause in progress and development, and attaches her curses on all inaction”.

So, Me nua John, don’t waste our ears and touch not the public purse delving into the known.

Take the Local Governance Act and appreciate the immerse power the MMDAs wield, go through the EPA Act, study carefully the Act establishing the Water Resources Commission, you may take a look at the by -laws of the various Assemblies on the subject matter, let Lordina assist you with Article 41 (k) of Constitution 1992, it’s her civic responsibility.

Extend an invitation to Mutala Mohammed to come to your office this morning – ask him to bring along all Committee reports on the subject matter shelved on the shelves at his Ministry over the years dusted and you will appreciate how needless the Committee you set up is.

Task Dr. Amoakohene to visit Aboabo and appreciate how liquid waste has been piped into River Aboabo and Subin in the full glare of all who matter in the equation – this action and inaction has culminated in the near extinction of the aforesaid river bodies.

John, NEED I ADD MORE?

As I have already indicated, the above was published last year in March. I hope it made some sense this rainy-free day. ?NTO WO A, DA

This is how far we have travelled as a Nation called Ghana, situated on the west coast of Africa.

THE FAULT, I DARE SAY, IS NOT, AND CAN NOT, BE IN OUR STARS, BUT IN OURSELVES.

Written by Osei Kwabena Esq, Etia Street, Asante Effiduase

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