President John Dramani Mahama has directed an immediate nationwide effort to clear blocked drainage systems in Accra and authorised the release of emergency funds to support victims affected by Monday’s devastating floods.
The directive followed an aerial assessment of flood-hit communities in the capital on June 29, during which the President inspected the extent of damage caused by the heavy rains.
Speaking after the inspection, President Mahama announced that a meeting of the National Security Council would be convened to coordinate a comprehensive response to the perennial flooding problem.
He said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), working together with the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, had been tasked to identify all blocked drains and waterways 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,” he said.
The President stressed that the exercise would involve not only the demolition of illegal structures obstructing waterways but also the complete removal of debris to restore the free flow of stormwater.
“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.
To provide immediate assistance to affected residents, President Mahama directed the Minister of Finance to release funds from the Contingency Fund to support emergency relief operations and humanitarian assistance.
He also commended the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Works and Housing, the 48 Engineers Regiment and other emergency responders for their swift rescue efforts, including evacuating stranded residents using boats.
Beyond the emergency response, President Mahama said government was pursuing long-term measures to reduce pressure on Accra through a new urban development strategy.
He disclosed that plans were underway to establish a new growth centre outside the capital as part of a 20-year national development agenda, with major public institutions expected to be relocated to ease congestion.
“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 expressed sympathy to families, businesses and communities affected by the floods, describing the destruction as significant.
He also urged Ghanaians to adopt more responsible environmental practices, warning that poor maintenance of drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal and encroachment on waterways continue to aggravate flooding in the capital.
“This time should be different,” President Mahama said, calling for sustained collective action to permanently address Accra’s recurring flood challenges.
