President John Dramani Mahama has ordered authorities to clear structures and debris obstructing drainage channels across Accra after severe flooding inundated parts of the capital, while directing emergency funding to support affected residents.
The directive followed an aerial assessment of flood-hit communities on Sunday, June 29, as the government intensifies efforts to address one of the city’s most persistent infrastructure challenges.
Mr. Mahama said a meeting of the National Security Council would be convened to coordinate a broader response to recurrent flooding, with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies working alongside the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to identify and remove blockages in major drainage systems.
“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,” the president said.
He said the operation would extend beyond demolishing unauthorized structures built within waterways, emphasizing that debris must also be cleared to restore drainage capacity.
“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 said.
The president said the latest flooding underscored the need for both immediate enforcement and longer-term urban planning reforms. He outlined plans for a 20-year development strategy aimed at reducing pressure on Accra by establishing a new growth center outside the capital, relocating major public institutions and expanding infrastructure to attract residents and businesses.
“We’ll do the roads, bring the water and electricity so that it eases the pressure on Accra as a city,” he said.
Mr. Mahama described the damage caused by Monday’s floods as extensive and expressed sympathy for affected families and businesses. He commended the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Works and Housing, emergency responders and the 48 Engineers Regiment for conducting rescue operations, including boat evacuations in submerged communities.
He also directed the Minister of Finance to release money from the Contingency Fund to finance immediate relief efforts for flood victims.
Calling for stronger environmental stewardship, the president said recurring failures to protect drainage systems and waterways have compounded flooding in the capital and urged sustained action to prevent future disasters.
“This time should be different,” he said.
Source:TheDotNews