By Dorothy Frances Ward, GNA
Kumasi July 24, GNA – Dr Owusu Fordjour Aidoo, Academic Researcher and Lecturer at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, has advocated for the strengthening of sanitation laws and their enforcement to help reduce flooding in the country’s cities.
A multi-sectorial approach, he said was crucial in addressing this perennial challenge of flooding caused by poor sanitation before any drastic consequences arose in the country.
Dr. Owusu Fordjoir Aidoo who was speaking in an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi emphasised that, poor environmental sanitation continued to be a major contributor to recurrent flooding in urban and some rural areas in the country and it was about time this situation was addressed seriously with all stakeholders being committed to its solution.
The indiscriminate disposal of solid waste into drains, streams and other water bodies have significantly reduced the capacity of drainage systems to carry storm water, resulting in frequent flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
He added that, rapid urbanisation had increased pressure on sanitation infrastructure in major cities, while the growth in population had not been matched by adequate waste management systems.
This had led to the accumulation of refuse in drains and waterways.
Dr Aidoo, said this situation had increased the vulnerability of urban communities to floods.
Plastic waste remains one of the greatest challenges confronting sanitation authorities.
Used water sachets, plastic bottles, platic shopping bags and food containers are often discarded indiscriminately and eventually find their way into drainage channels.
He lamented that some members of the public wait till it rained heavily and they sadly dump refuse in drains expecting them to be washed away, but the question is, where.
H said, plastic materials were non-biodegradable, they remained in drains for long periods, obstructing the flow of water and increasing the likelihood of flooding whenever it rains.
He said some sanitaion officers have observed that drains that were desilted before the rainy season often became clogged again within a short period due to irresponsible waste disposal practices.
Dr Aidoo expressed concern about the increasing encroachment on waterways and wetlands.
He said in many communities, structures have been erected on natural drainage paths, reducing the ability of floodwaters to flow freely.
This rainwater backs up into residential areas, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure and sometimes taking lives, he noted.
According to him, economic cost of flooding remained significant pointing out that, businesses often suffered losses due to damaged goods, interrupted operations and reduced customer access.
Roads and bridges damaged by floodwaters require substantial public funds for repairs, placing additional pressure on government budgets. Farmers operating in peri-urban communities also experience losses when farmlands were submerged and crops destroyed.
He mentioned that poor sanitation also posesd serious health risks. Stagnant water created by blocked drains provided breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the incidence of malaria.
Additionally, floodwaters often became contaminated with human and household waste, exposing residents to diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhoeal infections.
Dr Aidoo stressed the need for public health workers to be vigilant and warn the public that poor sanitation and flooding together created conditions that could trigger public health emergencies.
He stressed that the negative impact of climate change became intensified when the environment was contaminated with all sorts of waste.
As the country was experiencing increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns, including more intense rainstorms, these bad behavior of indiscriminate waste disposal must be stopped, he emphasized.
While climate change contributes to the volume of rainfall, he maintained that proper sanitation and effective drainage management could significantly reduce the impact of such events on communities.
He urged metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to strengthen sanitation enforcement, improve waste collection services and increase investment in drainage infrastructure.
He advocated for penalties for littering and indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and water bodies.
Traditional leaders, religious institutions and civil society organisations must support public education campaigns aimed at promoting responsible waste disposal practices, he noted.
He said government intervention was not enough but the cooperation of citizens was essential in keeping drains free from waste and protecting communities from the devastating effects of floods.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Linda Asante Agyei
Writer: Frances Dorothy Ward
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