Govt Accused of Prioritising Flood PR Over Prevention

The June 28-29 floods that hit parts of Accra, the Volta Region, and the Central Region left a trail of destruction in their wake. Former Dormaa East Member of Parliament, Paul Twum Barimah, has accused the government of prioritising public relations over long-term flood prevention measures.

Paul Twum Barimah, who made his accusations on Facebook, claimed that the government's immediate response to the floods focused on announcing relief funds, launching a task force, and deploying security personnel. However, he alleged that the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID), a World Bank-supported flood prevention project, has suffered setbacks due to inadequate funding.

The former lawmaker further claimed that the World Bank downgraded the GARID project's performance rating to "Moderately Unsatisfactory" in May 2026, after the Ministry of Finance reportedly capped disbursements and transferred GH¢13.8 million from the project's account. This move, he claimed, left contractors unpaid and stalled the project's progress.

Barimah also pointed out that a US$7 million flood early warning system procured several years ago has not been activated, while encroachment on drainage buffer zones in Accra continues without enforcement. He argued that the government should direct resources towards preventive infrastructure rather than emergency interventions after disasters occur.

The government's response to the floods has been met with widespread criticism, with many accusing them of being more interested in public relations stunts than actually addressing the root causes of the problem. The floods, which affected hundreds of thousands of people, left many without homes, and caused widespread destruction.

Paul Twum Barimah has been a vocal critic of the government's handling of natural disasters, and has called for sustained investment in flood prevention measures. He argued that the country needs to activate the early warning system, strengthen drainage infrastructure, and enforce regulations to prevent encroachment on buffer zones before future floods occur.

'Ghana needs sustained investment in flood prevention, activation of the early warning system, and strict enforcement of drainage buffer regulations before future floods occur.'