By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Accra, July 04, GNA — The Graduates and Professionals of Ga-Dangme (GPGD) Network has called for urgent and coordinated national action to address Ghana’s recurring floods.
The Network described the situation as a major challenge that requires sustained commitment from government, local authorities, communities and the private sector.
In a statement, the GPGD Network expressed sympathy to families affected by the recent floods, which claimed lives, destroyed homes and businesses, and displaced many residents in parts of the country.
It also commended emergency responders, security agencies, health workers, volunteers
and citizens who assisted flood victims during the emergency.
According to the network, recurring floods should no longer be regarded as unavoidable natural disasters but as a national development challenge requiring practical and long-term solutions.
It attributed the persistent flooding to poor drainage systems, indiscriminate disposal of refuse into drains, construction on waterways and weak enforcement of planning regulations.
The GPGD Network urged communities to revive regular communal labour and scheduled clean-up exercises, undertake periodic desilting of drains and intensify public education on proper waste disposal.
It also proposed the appointment of community drain wardens to monitor illegal dumping of refuse and promptly report blocked drains to the appropriate authorities.
It called on metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to undertake routine desilting of major drains before the onset of the rainy season and enforce planning regulations to prevent development on waterways.
The Network further recommended the establishment of a public register of structures encroaching on waterways, accompanied by phased relocation or removal plans where necessary.
The statement urged the government to establish a dedicated fund for routine drainage maintenance instead of relying primarily on post-disaster relief and digitise the building permit system to prevent unauthorised developments on waterways, as well as invest in early warning systems capable of sending flood alerts to residents in vulnerable communities. It also encouraged the private sector and civil society organisations to support drainage maintenance through partnerships, including sponsorship of drain desilting programmes and the provision of technical expertise for assessing high-risk flood areas.
The GPGD Network said maintaining existing drainage infrastructure and enforcing planning regulations would be more cost-effective than relying solely on expensive long-term infrastructure projects.
It appealed to all Ghanaians to support relief efforts for flood victims while working together to build safer, cleaner and more resilient communities.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]