News
GNFS recovers body of man from flooded drain at Kpando-Gabi
Firefighters from the Kpando Fire Station of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have recovered the body of a man from a flooded drainage channel at Kpando-Gabi in the Kpando Municipality.
The incident occurred on Friday, July 3, 2026, after heavy rainfall caused a drainage channel near the Kpando-Gabi M/A JHS to overflow.
Following a distress call that an individual had accidentally entered the flooded channel, a GNFS crew was dispatched to the scene to conduct a search and recovery operation.
The team recovered the body of one male victim from the drain. It was subsequently handed over to the Ghana Police Service for investigations and further action.
The Ghana National Fire Service is cautioning the public to avoid crossing flooded drains, streams, and waterways during heavy rains. The Service noted that floodwaters can be swift, unpredictable, and life-threatening.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has officially reinstated the ‘Samansaman’ sanitation enforcement exercise as part of renewed efforts to restore cleanliness and order across the metropolis.
The operation commenced on Monday, July 6, 2026, with a patrol in Dichemso led by Mr. Kwaku Poku, Head of the Environmental Health Unit. The exercise was carried out by a special task force comprising technocrats and security personnel.
At the end of day one, 13 offenders were arrested for various sanitation offences. The arrested persons have since been arraigned before the Prempeh Assembly District Court for prosecution.
According to KMA, the reintroduction of the ‘Samansaman’ system is to ensure that residents take full responsibility for keeping their homes, businesses, and immediate surroundings clean.
The Assembly noted that the pace of sanitation improvement in Kumasi has been slow in recent times, a situation it says has contributed to deteriorating environmental conditions in parts of the city.
Speaking on the exercise, KMA stated that it remains committed to backing its sanitation agenda with decisive enforcement action to make Kumasi cleaner, healthier, and safer for residents and visitors.
The Assembly is appealing to the public to support the initiative.
“A clean Kumasi is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s all do our part by keeping our surroundings clean and disposing of waste responsibly,” the Assembly urged the people of Kumasi.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Flood Mitigation Task Force has identified several illegal structures in Oyarifa that are disrupting natural water channels and worsening drainage, as part of ongoing post-flood mitigation efforts.
During an inspection, the team found a developer had constructed apartments directly over a water channel. Other nearby developments were also observed to have altered the natural flow of water uphill.
Several inappropriately sited structures have been marked for demolition to restore proper drainage pathways, the Task Force said.
In the ‘New York’ area of Oyarifa, officials also discovered a retention wall being built to divert the natural flow of water.
The Task Force noted that the alteration has led to flooding in areas that were previously unaffected, underscoring the impact of unauthorized interventions on the environment and surrounding communities.
The assessment forms part of government’s broader efforts to address the causes of flooding and improve flood resilience in affected areas.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
