Members of Parliament have intensified calls for a comprehensive national strategy to address Ghana’s recurring flood disasters, advocating stricter enforcement of planning regulations and the removal of structures obstructing waterways.
The lawmakers argued that the country must move beyond emergency responses and adopt long-term solutions capable of reducing the devastating impact of floods on lives, property and communities.
Leading the call on the floor of Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, urged government to develop a flood-resilient framework that incorporates proper urban planning, environmental protection and coordinated stakeholder action.
He called for the demolition of buildings constructed on waterways, the restoration of wetlands and mangrove ecosystems, and the promotion of rainwater harvesting systems as part of a broader flood mitigation agenda.
Mr Shaib also appealed to the Minister for Works and Housing to update Parliament on government’s medium- and long-term plans for managing floods, while requesting a briefing from the national anti-flood taskforce on measures being implemented to address the challenge.
According to him, tackling floods should not become a partisan issue, stressing that a united national approach is required to prevent future disasters.
The MP further advocated a dedicated flood-resilience strategy for the Greater Accra Region, supported by stronger collaboration among local assemblies, traditional authorities and other stakeholders.
Adding his voice to the debate, Effia MP Isaac Yaw Boamah-Nyarko said Ghana must abandon its reactive approach of offering condolences and emergency assistance after floods and instead focus on prevention.
He emphasised the importance of constructing effective drainage systems, improving public attitudes towards environmental management and strengthening waste disposal practices.
Other lawmakers, including Klottey Korle MP Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and Ofoase Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, also underscored the urgency of implementing sustainable measures to address the recurring problem.
Ghana has experienced annual flooding in several urban centres, particularly Accra, resulting in deaths, destruction of infrastructure, loss of property and displacement of residents.
Experts have consistently linked the problem to poor urban planning, inadequate drainage networks, encroachment on waterways and indiscriminate disposal of waste.
Although successive governments have introduced interventions such as anti-flood taskforces and emergency relief programmes, MPs maintain that only a coordinated, long-term flood-resilient national plan can break the cycle of destruction and protect vulnerable communities from future disasters.
