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Ghana's flood crisis has taken a devastating toll on the nation, with heavy rains causing widespread destruction in Accra and other parts of the country.

Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Ranking Member on Parliament's Select Committee on Local Government and Decentralisation, has expressed deep condolences to families who lost loved ones in the floods and sympathised with thousands of affected residents whose homes, businesses, and livelihoods were destroyed.

Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament, the former Minister for Works and Housing described the scenes from affected communities as heartbreaking and a painful reminder of the urgent need for lasting solutions to the country's perennial flood challenge.

The Bantama MP expressed outrage at disturbing videos circulating on social media showing helpless citizens being swept away by floodwaters, with others trapped in collapsing structures while onlookers watched in anguish, unable to rescue them.

According to Asenso-Boakye, the causes of flooding in Ghana are well known and multifaceted, pointing to inadequate drainage infrastructure, weak enforcement of planning regulations, poor waste management, rapid urbanisation, and the growing effects of climate change as major contributors to the problem.

He cautioned against reducing the flooding crisis to a single cause, acknowledging public concerns regarding recent changes in sanitation and waste management policies.

Mr Asenso-Boakye urged government to ensure that any policy changes affecting sanitation and waste management are backed by adequate transition arrangements to prevent disruptions in essential services.

He stressed that the flood crisis demands collective responsibility rather than partisan blame, urging all stakeholders to work together to tackle the problem through strict enforcement of planning regulations, protection of waterways, improved sanitation, and sustained investment in drainage infrastructure.

The Bantama MP further emphasised that flooding should never become an accepted feature of Ghana's rainy season, urging all stakeholders to commit to building safer and more climate-resilient communities.

Key Facts

  • At least 10 people have lost their lives in the recent floods in Accra and other parts of the country.
  • Hundreds of homes and businesses have been destroyed or damaged in the floods.
  • The Ghanaian government has pledged to provide emergency assistance to affected communities.
  • Asenso-Boakye called for national unity in addressing the flood crisis, urging all stakeholders to work together to find lasting solutions.
  • The MP stressed that the flood crisis requires a comprehensive response, citing inadequate drainage infrastructure and weak enforcement of planning regulations as major contributors to the problem.