Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has offered a detailed set of recommendations to Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah following the government’s decision to appoint him to lead a nationwide flood mitigation exercise.
In an open letter addressed to the senior military officer, Manasseh responded to the announcement by Government Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who said Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah had been tasked to lead an “uncompromising, robust, and all-action Flood Mitigation Exercise.”
Rather than congratulating him, Manasseh said the enormous scale of Ghana’s flooding problem made it difficult to do so.
“I wish I could say congratulations, but knowing the enormity of the problem you’re to confront, I can only wish you well,” he wrote.
He expressed confidence that the Brigadier General, who serves as the Director General in charge of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces, possesses the experience and leadership required to execute the assignment successfully.
As the taskforce prepares to begin work, Manasseh outlined four key proposals he believes could make the operation effective and leave a lasting impact.
His first recommendation was the creation of dedicated hotlines through which members of the public can report illegal developments and major obstructions that have blocked waterways and contributed to devastating floods.
According to him, authorities cannot possibly know every location where waterways have been obstructed, but residents who have long witnessed such violations can provide valuable intelligence if given the opportunity.
“You cannot know everything, but the people who have bottled up these concerns can call your attention to the locations,” he stated.
His second piece of advice focused on integrity within the taskforce itself.
Manasseh cautioned Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah to be alert to individuals who may attempt to exploit the operation for personal financial gain. Referring to previous military-led anti-galamsey operations, he said he had heard numerous allegations of corruption and misconduct associated with those exercises.
“I’ve heard a lot about the anti-galamsey operations spearheaded by soldiers. It’s really dirty. Let this one be different,” he urged.
The journalist also challenged the taskforce to live up to the government’s promise of an “uncompromising” operation.
He argued that the exercise must not become one where enforcement is directed only at ordinary citizens while politically connected or wealthy individuals escape accountability.
“Uncompromising should be uncompromising, not uncompromising on the downtrodden and selective on the rich and powerful,” he stressed.
His final recommendation centred on accountability and prosecution.
Manasseh said the operation should not end with the demolition of structures alone but should result in legal consequences for all those responsible for creating the problem.
He insisted that among those prosecuted should be government officials who approved permits for developments on unapproved lands or in waterways.
According to him, unless corrupt public officials are made to face the consequences of their actions, they will continue accepting bribes and facilitating illegal developments that ultimately cost lives and destroy property whenever floods occur.
He therefore called for the police and the appropriate prosecutorial agencies to be fully involved in the exercise from the outset to ensure all legal procedures are followed and offenders are arrested and prosecuted where necessary.
Bringing his letter to a close, Manasseh once again wished Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah success in the difficult assignment.
Signing off with a personal reflection, he described himself as “a boy who once wished to be a soldier and still admires the military from afar.”
He also invited members of the public to contribute ideas and report flood-prone areas or locations where illegal developments have obstructed waterways, saying public participation would be essential to the success of the flood mitigation exercise.
