President John Dramani Mahama has directed a coordinated crackdown on structures and other obstructions blocking drainage channels in Accra, following the devastating floods that hit parts of the capital on Monday, June 29.
Speaking after undertaking an aerial inspection of flood-affected communities, the President announced that government will convene a meeting of the National Security Council to coordinate a more robust response to the perennial flooding problem in the capital.
According to him, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), working in collaboration with the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, will be tasked to identify all blocked drainage channels for immediate intervention.
“We’re asking every district to identify, together with the Works and Housing Ministry, where the blockages in the channels are, so that we can earmark those places for removal,” President Mahama said.
He stressed that the exercise would go beyond demolishing illegal structures, explaining that all debris and rubble obstructing waterways would also be cleared.
“We’ll not only break the houses. We have to move the rubble out of the way because there’s no use breaking a house and leaving the rubble in the waterways,” he stated.
President Mahama noted that tackling Accra’s flooding challenge would require both immediate enforcement measures and long-term structural interventions.
He disclosed that government is considering the development of a new growth centre outside Accra as part of a broader strategy to reduce pressure on the capital.
According to him, plans are being developed for a 20-year urban development programme that will gradually relocate major public institutions from Accra while creating a new urban centre where residents and businesses can settle and invest.
“We’ll do the roads, bring the water and electricity so that it eases the pressure on Accra as a city,” he said.
The President also expressed sympathy to families and businesses affected by the floods, describing the extent of destruction as significant.
He commended the efforts of the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Works and Housing, emergency response agencies and the 48 Engineers Regiment for their rescue operations, including the evacuation of stranded residents using boats.
President Mahama further directed the Minister of Finance to release funds from the Contingency Fund to support immediate relief efforts for persons affected by the floods.
He urged Ghanaians to adopt a more responsible approach to environmental management, warning that the continued neglect of drainage systems and waterways contributes significantly to the recurring flooding crisis in the capital.
“This time should be different,” the President said, calling for sustained action to address Accra’s perennial flooding challenge.