By Stephen Asante
Accra, June 5, GNA – The sentiments echoing from many parts of the country in the wake of the recent downpour are clear: “The rains are here, and once again, our beloved country Ghana has been caught unprepared.”
Many have been left homeless and dejected, losing almost everything they have worked for as their properties are swept away in flash floods.
For decades, the nation has borne the brunt of systemic failures in setting its priorities right regarding the protection of ecology and biodiversity.
This has been compounded by climate change, which continues to warm the globe daily with attendant negative consequences for the environment.
The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), in a recent statement shared with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), called for an urgent overhaul of the country’s stormwater management policies.
It warned that the country’s drainage systems are no longer capable of addressing the realities of rapid urbanisation, climate variability, and increasing floods.
“Flooding in Accra is no longer simply a seasonal occurrence. It is increasingly becoming a structural challenge driven by the loss of natural infiltration areas and fragmented management policies,” it noted.
Studies have demonstrated the rapid deterioration of Ghana’s ecosystem – a reality reflected in the loss of forest cover, pollution of air and water bodies, rising temperature levels, and the extinction of animal species.
In 2025, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) disclosed that air, water, and waste pollution were major environmental challenges in the country.
On air pollution, UNEP said: “100 per cent of Ghana’s population is exposed to PM2.5 levels exceeding the World Health Organisation’s guidelines.”
The country generates over 3,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste daily, equivalent to 1.1 million tonnes per year. Of this, an estimated 86 per cent is mismanaged, environmentalists say.
The unfolding scenario is a sharp reminder of a looming danger. As the nation marks the 2026 World Environment Day, it should dawn on stakeholders that Ghana is sitting on a “time bomb.”
The nation is not immune to the tragedies and disasters that have befallen many countries worldwide that failed to plan and build resilient ecosystems.
Ghana has recorded the most severe decline in environmental sustainability across Africa over the past decade, according to the 2024 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) Report.
Land and water biodiversity protection showed an even steeper drop, from 37 points in 2014 to 24 points in 2023, marking a 12.1-point decrease.
“The Earth is already speaking to us—through record-breaking temperatures, more intense wildfires, extreme storms, and glaciers disappearing before our eyes. Time is running out, and nature is in emergency mode,” warns UNEP in a statement to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day.
Held annually on June 5 since 1973, the Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach, celebrated by millions of people across the world.
The 2026 commemoration is being observed under the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” with a focus on climate action.
The celebration has become one of the world’s most far-reaching platforms in support of environmental causes, as societies engage in varied activities, events, and initiatives to promote environmental consciousness.
The UN says: “Climate change is no longer a future threat: it is reshaping life across the planet. Yet another force is also gaining momentum: collective action. Communities are restoring ecosystems. Young people are driving change. Clean energy is transforming cities and homes. Sustainable solutions are already building a different future.”
For Ghana, the occasion is a reminder that policymakers, environmentalists, civil society organisations, and researchers need to work together to protect nature – the greatest ally in the fight against climate change.
Limiting global warming to about 1.5°C is essential to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, scientists have disclosed.
The UN notes that sustainable solutions are already building a different future. “World Environment Day 2026 reminds us that we still have time to change course. The Earth is sending us signals. The question is: what signal are we going to send in return?”
GNA
Reporter: Stephen Asante
Email: [email protected]
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong