Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has issued a stern warning to officials who approve building permits for unauthorised developments, cautioning that such actions could attract disciplinary sanctions, including reassignment to northern parts of the country.
The Minister delivered the warning on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, during a demolition exercise at the Ramseyer site in Sakomono, where structures deemed to have been erected without proper approval were pulled down.
Addressing the media, Ms. Ocloo said the measure forms part of efforts to clamp down on the growing trend of illegal construction, which continues to undermine urban planning regulations and contribute to worsening infrastructure and environmental challenges in the Greater Accra Region.
She explained that the decision to transfer errant officers is intended to serve as a strong deterrent, stressing that officials who knowingly approve permits for developments on unapproved lands will not be spared.
“If you issue a permit knowing very well that the place is illegal, you’ll also face the law. Some of them will be transferred to the North just to serve as a kind of punishment so that when they realize that what they did was wrong,” she stated.
According to the Minister, relocating such officers to different operational environments would not only serve as a corrective measure but also reinforce discipline within the system.
She emphasised that the directive is part of broader efforts to tighten oversight in the permit approval process and ensure strict adherence to planning regulations.
The demolition at Sakomono is one of several actions being undertaken by regional authorities to address unauthorised developments, which have been linked to flooding, congestion, and strain on public infrastructure in Accra.