Beyond the many individual structures obstructing waterways and the numerous buildings haphazardly developed across Accra, the city’s original engineering and drainage plans have been altered over the years to accommodate rapid urbanisation and population growth. These changes have significantly weakened the city’s ability to manage heavy rainfall and stormwater.
The scale and frequency of flooding now demand a comprehensive review of Ghana’s flood preparedness strategy. This should include the creation of designated buffer zones to facilitate rescue operations, improve situational awareness, support emergency response units, strengthen risk assessment models, establish effective early warning systems, update flood-risk mapping, and activate strategically located logistical hubs capable of responding swiftly to emergencies.
Inadequate national emergency preparedness—or the ineffective implementation of existing emergency response plans—could prove extremely costly, with devastating consequences for lives, property, and the economy.
The time for decisive action is now. Authorities must establish practical and adaptable systems that provide timely warnings, identify and prepare safe higher-ground evacuation centres, and strengthen measures to protect lives and property in a city increasingly vulnerable to flooding.
A critical review of the operations of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is necessary. Equally important is the strategic deployment and proper resourcing of frontline emergency response agencies to enhance coordination, improve response times, and strengthen disaster management capacity.
Finally, recognition must be given to the many frontline officers who continue to work tirelessly under difficult conditions to rescue victims, protect communities, and safeguard lives during flood emergencies.
By Richard Kumadoe
The Village Crusader
