June 2, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara (Bo)
The rampant building of houses in the swamps has become a serious concern to the Councilors of the Bo City Council (BCC). This was among the chief concern raised in the report of the Environment Committee of the Bo City Council.
Speaking at the Council meeting in Bo last week, a member of the Environment Committee of the Bo City Council, Councilor Abdul Razack Saidu expressed dissatisfaction and frustration at the manner in which houses are springing up in the swamps, which is blocking the waters ways leading to flash floods within Bo City.
According to him, this is raining reason and if the water roads are blocked in the swamp it would be disastrous for the people of Bo, adding that they do not have control over the construction of the houses in the swamps, as the building permit has not been devolved to the council.
He said that they should engage the relevant stakeholders including the Lands, Housing and Infrastructure ministry to ensure that the building permit is devolved to the council so that the right thing is done when it comes to the building of houses within the municipality of Bo.
Some of the councilors on the Environmental Committee called on the waste Management Department of the Bo City Council to open up the canals to ensure easy flow of water when it rains in order to avoid flooding.
Some Civil Society activists who attended the council meeting told this medium that the devolution of the building permit to the council is in place but it is also good that they have the technical personnel that will do such a work in the council.
They said that it is good that the city is well planned and that the rampant building of houses within the municipality of Bo should be put under control.
Some residents of Bo told this medium that lawlessness is difficult to control in Bo when it comes to building of houses in the swamp and this needs to be stopped.
Thomas Kargbo said that when it rains last week it affected him as a result of somebody building a house in the swamp and blocked the normal water road, which caused flash flood.
Mr Kargbo concluded by urging the government to take drastic action against those people building in the swamps.