Legal practitioner and political analyst Amanda Akuokor Clinton has placed the blame for Ghana’s recurring flood disasters squarely on institutional failure and poor urban governance, rejecting the idea that the rains themselves are to blame.
Appearing on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, May 24, Clinton stated emphatically that the nation’s inability to prevent annual flooding reflects weak planning systems and lack of political will.
“We don’t necessarily have a flooding problem in Ghana,” she said. “We have a planning and enforcement problem. That’s what it is, and we need the boldness to prevent it.”
Her comments follow yet another round of destructive floods in Accra and other urban centers — a familiar pattern that, she argues, signals not a natural disaster but a man-made policy failure.
Clinton pointed to systemic issues, including unregulated construction, choked drainage systems, and inconsistent enforcement of zoning laws. She stressed that unless these core issues are addressed, Ghana will continue to experience loss of life and property during even mild rainy seasons.
“It really is about planning, enforcement, and the boldness to act,” she emphasized. “If we can’t do this, how are we going to build the future that we want?”
Highlighting the government’s 2024 $150 million GARID loan project — meant to tackle drainage and solid waste — Clinton expressed frustration over the lack of visible progress.
“Year after year, it’s the same areas, the same problems. That tells you it’s not just a climate issue — it’s a system breakdown,” she said.
Clinton concluded by calling the situation a national disgrace, adding, “We can’t continue to let preventable rainstorms take lives. If we get this right, who knows how much more we could achieve?”
Her remarks have renewed calls for urgent reforms in Ghana’s urban infrastructure planning and regulatory enforcement.
