Alhaji Seidu Bawa, Upper West Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has warned people that people who build in water ways will have their structures demolition.
"We are putting efforts towards preventing the perennial flooding in the region and we shall not condone any act that will thwart this effort,"
he stressed.
Alhaji Bawa gave the warning during the launch of 2010 national pre-flood clean-up campaign at Wa on Saturday.
The Exercise, a directive from the President Professor John Evans Atta Mills, brought together personnel from NADMO, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the
Ghana National Fire Service and officials of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council among others.
The Exercise which was on the theme: "National Pre-flood Campaign" was aimed at mitigating the occurrence of flood disasters and its associated hazards in the region.
Alhaji Bawa urged the participants to take the exercise serious to enable them achieve its intended purpose.
Mr. Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister, who launched the exercise stressed the need for people to avoid building on waterways, and added that "We shall not pay any compensation to anybody who will have his or her house demolished for building on waterway".
He underscored the need to maintain a high sense of commitment and enthusiasm as they carry out the exercise to de-silt all chocked gutters and cleaning of their surroundings.
Mr. Khalid noted that last year floods in the region affected 120 communities with 421 houses collapsed, leaving three people dead.
He pointed out that in all 22,349 people were displaced with 5, 682 acres of farms totally destroyed.
He advised the people to learn good sanitation practices such as disposal of rubbish only at places approved by the Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) to prevent such future devastations, as well as ensure that they practiced proper personal hygiene.
Mr. Khalid stated that environmental cleanliness was a major pillar in the NDC better Ghana Agenda, hence the directive by the President to all MDAs to institute regular clean-up campaigns, to reawaken the people of
their responsibility in seeking a clean and healthy environment.