By Gifty Amofa, GNA
Accra, July 2, GNA – The Ghana WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Journalists Network (GWJN) has expressed sadness over the devastating floods that once again swept through Accra and surrounding communities, claiming lives, destroying homes and businesses, and leaving thousands of residents traumatised.
The Network extended its heartfelt condolences to families who lost loved ones and expressed sympathy to all those whose properties and livelihoods were affected. It stressed that every life lost to flooding in Ghana is one too many.
A release issued by Mr Samuel Asamoah, National General Secretary of the Network, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the recurrence of the tragedy was unacceptable.
It noted that year after year, governments had promised lasting solutions, committees had been established, reports prepared, and emergency interventions undertaken, yet the same communities continued to experience flooding whenever heavy rains occur, adding that “Ghana deserves better.”
The GWJN stated that the latest flooding serves as another painful reminder that the country’s flood management strategy required a complete overhaul.
“While floods may be natural phenomena, the resulting disasters are largely caused by human failures in planning, engineering, enforcement, environmental management, and governance,” it said.
The Network noted with concern that the causes of flooding in Accra had long been identified. These include widespread encroachment on wetlands, floodplains, and natural water-retention areas through illegal developments; uncontrolled construction on waterways and drainage reservations; poor land-use planning and weak enforcement of planning regulations; and choked drains caused by indiscriminate disposal of waste and the accumulation of silt.
It further highlighted rapid urbanisation without corresponding drainage infrastructure, poorly engineered road projects that failed to incorporate adequate storm-water drainage systems, culverts, retention ponds, and properly connected outfalls into major drains, rivers, lagoons, and the sea.
The release also pointed to inadequate maintenance of existing drainage infrastructure before and during the rainy season, as well as weak coordination among institutions responsible for flood prevention and urban planning.
It stressed that Ghana must stop treating flooding as merely a seasonal emergency and instead elevate flood prevention to a permanent national development priority.
The release explained that the mandate of the Ghana Hydrological Authority (HYDRO) extended beyond responding to flood incidents.
“HYDRO is responsible for planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining storm-water drainage systems, flood-control infrastructure, and coastal protection works. It also advises government on measures to minimise flooding and protect lives and property.”
The GWJN, therefore, urged HYDRO, working together with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, the Environmental Protection Authority, the Ministry responsible for Works and Housing, and other stakeholders, to aggressively protect all remaining wetlands and natural drainage corridors from further encroachment.
The release maintained that no road project should be approved without comprehensive hydrological and drainage engineering studies.
It argued that every major road must incorporate adequately designed side drains, culverts, storm-water channels, and engineered discharge systems capable of safely conveying runoff into rivers, lagoons, and ultimately the sea.
Roads, it emphasized, should never become barriers that trap floodwaters within communities.
The GWJN also called for an immediate halt to the destruction of wetlands for housing, commercial, and infrastructure developments.
It described wetlands as nature’s flood-control systems and warned that every wetland lost significantly increased the risk of catastrophic flooding.
In March 2025, it recalled that President John Dramani Mahama established a high-level Anti-Flood Taskforce chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Mr Stanislav Xoese Dogbe, to identify both immediate and long-term measures for addressing Ghana’s persistent flooding challenges.
The taskforce conducted aerial reconnaissance of flood-prone communities and announced plans for urgent interventions, including the desilting of major drains.
GWJN questioned what had become of the findings and recommendations of the taskforce. It asked which recommendations had been implemented and what measurable progress had been achieved to prevent a recurrence of the tragic scenes recently witnessed in Accra.
The Network argued that Ghanaians deserved transparency and accountability regarding that important national assignment.
It called on the Mahama Administration to demonstrate bold political leadership in bringing a lasting solution to the decades-old challenge, while urging the Government to make difficult but necessary decisions where required, including enforcing planning regulations without fear or favour.
It said removing structures obstructing waterways, reclaiming wetlands, strengthening engineering standards for infrastructure projects, and holding public officials accountable for negligence must be prioritised.
“This is not the time for temporary fixes or annual emergency responses. Rather, it is a time for permanent engineering solutions supported by strong political will,” the release said.
GWJN also acknowledged that citizens had a critical role to play in ending the crisis. It noted that indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains, plastic pollution, and illegal developments on waterways continued to worsen flooding and must be stopped.
The Network pledged to intensify nationwide media advocacy on environmental sanitation, drainage protection, and flood prevention. It further vowed to work with the media, civil society organisations, and relevant state institutions to expose individuals, businesses, and developers who dump refuse into drains, obstruct waterways, or illegally build on wetlands and drainage reservations.
It emphasised that flooding should not continue to define Ghana’s rainy seasons and that the country already possessed the necessary knowledge, engineering expertise, and institutions to address the problem.
“What is now required is coordinated implementation, strict enforcement, and sustained political commitment.”
GWJN also recommended that MMDAs and other relevant government agencies took immediate steps to protect safe water sources from contamination following the floods.
It advised that pipe systems and boreholes that had been submerged should be tested and treated for E. coli and other contaminants to ensure they remained safe for public use.
The Network proposed the provision of emergency safe water supplies to affected communities wherever possible, stressing that “the time for decisive action is now.”
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe