Radical action needed to end flood menace

President John Mahama’s unequivocal warning against the illegal construction of buildings on waterways during his Eid-ul-Fitr address strikes at the heart of one of our most persistent and destructive crises—annual flooding that claims lives, displaces families and cripples economic activity. 

He made the point that, "Private developers and even some chiefs are turning water retention zones into estates, endangering lives. Those structures will be pulled down, and offenders will face the law”.

His pledge to demolish unlawful structures and prosecute offenders is a welcome declaration.  “This reckless disregard for planning regulations and environmental safety must stop,” he said.

The President’s comments come as the country braces for another rainy season, with early downpours already causing flooding in some communities.

However, if our nation is to break free from this cycle of disaster, the government must move beyond the familiar pattern of tough talk followed by tepid enforcement. 

This time, the nation demands—and deserves—a comprehensive, uncompromising strategy that addresses not just the symptoms but the root causes of flooding.  

Flooding is not merely an inconvenience; it is a national emergency with devastating human and economic consequences.

Ghanaians cannot forget the tragedy of  the 2015 Accra floods, which led to the deadly GOIL fuel station explosion which killed over 150 people on a single day.

Indeed, flooding has over the years inflicted deep emotional scars on survivors.

Families who lose loved ones, breadwinners who see their shops washed away, and children forced out of school due to displacement—these are the human faces of our collective failure.

The psychological trauma lasts long after the floodwaters recede.

We cannot pretend to be oblivious of the repeated warnings by the Ghana Meteorological Agency that climate change would intensify rainfall patterns, yet our preparedness remains woefully inadequate.  

The financial toll is staggering.

The World Bank estimates that Ghana loses approximately $290 million annually due to flood-related damages—funds that could otherwise be channelled into health care, education or critical infrastructure. Worse, the poorest communities, often forced to settle in flood-prone areas due to unaffordable housing, bear the brunt of these disasters.  

Successive governments have launched initiatives to combat flooding, yet the problem persists.

And there are several reasons. 

Among them is the rampant illegal land sales, often involving traditional leaders and public officials, a practice that has turned wetlands and drainage corridors into residential estates. 

Most of Accra’s drainage systems are colonial-era relics, long outmatched by urban expansion.

Piecemeal dredging and temporary fixes, like the Odaw River desilting projects, provide only fleeting relief.  

While many people deliberately ignore the laws to build at unapproved sites, some people build on waterways not out of defiance, but necessity. With affordable housing inaccessible, slums like Old Fadama persist in flood zones in Accra because residents have nowhere else to go.  

If President Mahama’s administration is serious about ending this crisis, it must adopt a multi-pronged, long-term strategy that goes beyond demolitions.

Chiefs, politicians, and wealthy developers who flout building regulations must face the same consequences as ordinary citizens; demolished sites should be secured and repurposed as green buffers or retention ponds to prevent re-encroachment and a transparent, centralised land registry must be implemented to curb fraudulent sales while public officials who approve illegal constructions must be punished.  

We must also replace outdated drains with expanded, climate-resilient systems.

The Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project must be fully funded and expedited, while we leverage technology to provide real-time alerts to at-risk communities.  

President Mahama’s stern warning is a necessary first step, but history has shown that good intentions alone will not stop the floods.

As climate change brings more extreme weather, half-measures will prove catastrophic.

President Mahama's administration has an opportunity to rewrite Ghana's flood narrative—but only if actions match the strong rhetoric.

The blueprint exists. What's needed now is courageous, consistent implementation. History will judge us harshly if we fail again.  

The coming months will test whether his government has the political will to enforce laws without bias, prosecute the powerful, and invest in lasting solutions.

Ghana cannot afford another decade of flooded streets, destroyed livelihoods and empty promises.

This time, action must speak louder than words.