{
  "id": 10688732,
  "title": "Ghana must stop turning rivers into gutters through encroachment – Kwadwo Poku",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/ghana-must-stop-turning-rivers-into-gutters-through-encroachment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T12:15:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-must-stop-turning-rivers-into-gutters-through-encroachment-kwadwo-poku/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghanaian authorities must alter their approach to managing rivers and cease treating them as mere gutters, according to Kwadwo Poku, Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Policies Research (INSTEPR). Speaking on JoyNews' AM Show, Mr. Poku highlighted the need to protect river courses from encroachment, emphasizing that widespread construction around river channels is diminishing the space required for waterways to carry water during heavy rainfall. He cited the Oti River as a case in point, noting that sections of the river have been encroached upon, effectively transforming it into a gutter. Mr. Poku stressed that restricting a river's natural channel does not stop water from finding its way, but the absence of the necessary space due to encroachment exacerbates the problem. He also pointed to the East Lagoon area around the American School, where structures have been built around a natural waterway, altering its appearance and reducing it to a gutter-like structure. Mr. Poku advocated for a model where communities and urban developments coexist with natural waterways, drawing parallels with Amsterdam, which has successfully integrated its natural water systems into urban development. He urged authorities to map out and protect Ghana's rivers before further encroachment becomes irreversible, as recurring flooding and improper waterway management continue to pose challenges in the country.",
  "summary": "Ghana must change how it manages its rivers and stop treating natural waterways as gutters, Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Policies Research (INSTEPR), Kwadwo Poku, has said. He said widespread encroachment and construction around river channels were reducing the natural space available for waterways to carry water, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. Speaking on the AM…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}