NADMO Should Be Given the Mandate to Grant Building Permits- UWR NADMO Director

The Upper West Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Mr. Ahmed Mustapha has appealed to Parliament to pass a law to mandate NADMO to be responsible for granting permits for the construction of buildings in the country.

According to the Mr. Mustapha, that would prevent the building of houses and other structures on waterways and water-logged areas to check the perennial flooding menaces that affect the lives and property of residents.

Mr Ahmed said this in Wa in the wake of flood incidences that were recorded in Wa about two weeks ago following a heavy downpour and the need to take action to prevent such disasters in the future.

The Upper West Regional NADMO director said the recent floods in Wa were a result of human activities including building on waterways and poor sanitation practices, especially indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage systems which choked gutters and blocked the free flow of water anytime it rained.

Mr Ahmed explained that the Wa Municipal Assembly had not considered the fast-growing pace of the municipality to take the necessary steps to match with the fast development pace including the construction of improved drainage systems.