The government has expressed sympathy to victims affected by recent flooding across Accra and other parts of the country, while reaffirming its commitment to tackling the perennial flooding challenge.
In a statement issued on Friday, June 6, the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, said the government was deeply concerned about the widespread flooding caused by recent heavy rains, which damaged homes, businesses and public infrastructure.
“On behalf of His Excellency the President and the Government of Ghana, I extend my deepest sympathy to all individuals, families, and communities affected by the recent flooding incidents in Accra and several parts of the country,” the minister stated.
He acknowledged the hardships suffered by affected residents, noting that many families had lost homes, livelihoods and valuable possessions.
“To those who have lost valuable possessions, homes, livelihoods, and personal property, we recognize the emotional, social, and economic toll these events have imposed on families and communities and wish to assure that government remains committed to supporting recovery efforts,” the statement said.
The government, however, maintained that while climate change and increasingly intense rainfall continue to put pressure on urban infrastructure, human activities remain a major contributor to flooding across the country.
Citing remarks by President John Mahama during a recent town hall meeting in London, the ministry said Ghana’s flooding problem has been worsened by poor environmental practices and disregard for planning regulations.
President Mahama observed that “the indiscriminate disposal of waste into drains and watercourses, the unauthorized construction of buildings on waterways and wetlands, and the failure to comply with planning regulations continue to obstruct the natural flow of water and increase the risk of flooding.”
The ministry further noted that encroachment on waterways, poor drainage maintenance, unregulated developments and weak enforcement of sanitation and planning by-laws have collectively intensified the impact of seasonal rains, particularly in rapidly growing urban centres such as Accra.
It stressed that addressing the flooding menace would require greater commitment from all stakeholders.
“Government therefore wishes to emphasize that our cities do not lack laws or engineering expertise; what it lacks is the collective discipline and will of all key stakeholders to enforce laws that already exist,” the statement said.
As part of immediate response measures, the ministry said it had activated interventions through the Ghana Hydrological Authority, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, security agencies and other relevant institutions.
These interventions include the deployment of emergency response teams, distribution of relief items to displaced persons, assessment of damaged infrastructure and intensified desilting exercises in flood-prone areas.
The ministry also outlined long-term plans to reduce flood risks, including major investments in drainage infrastructure, integrated urban planning, restoration of wetlands, stricter enforcement of planning regulations and the implementation of early warning systems.
“On behalf of the Government, we wish to assure the public that the Ministry will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to address the root causes of flooding and build safer, more resilient cities and communities for present and future generations,” the minister assured.
The government further urged citizens to support efforts aimed at reducing flooding by keeping drains free of waste, avoiding construction on waterways and complying with environmental and planning regulations.
