Former Chief Executive of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has expressed concern that Accra’s rapid expansion has not been matched by corresponding investment in critical infrastructure, particularly drainage systems and waste management.
His comments follow the severe flooding that struck parts of the capital on Monday, June 29, after hours of heavy rainfall. The floods submerged several communities, disrupted traffic and forced residents and motorists to seek safety as roads, homes and businesses were inundated.
Mr Vanderpuye said Accra has experienced what he described as “very critical and unprecedented growth” in recent years, but infrastructure development has failed to keep pace.
He noted that while the city’s population has grown and physical development has accelerated, essential infrastructure such as drainage systems and waste management facilities has lagged behind.
According to him, the imbalance has contributed to worsening environmental conditions and increased the city’s vulnerability to recurring floods.
Mr Vanderpuye called for more deliberate urban planning and sustained investment in infrastructure to ensure Accra’s growth is supported by systems capable of meeting the demands of its expanding population.
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“Accra has gone through very critical and unprecedented growth. This growth pattern has not been proportional to the development of social infrastructure. Accra is growing in population and in social infrastructure such as buildings and streets. However, there has not been a proportional development of infrastructure such as waste management facilities, drains, and others that would support the living conditions of the people in Accra,” he said.