The Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Dennis Nartey Ajannor, has identified improper waste disposal into drains as a major cause of flooding in parts of Accra during heavy rains.
He explained that many residents continue to dump rubbish into drains, which blocks water channels and leads to overflowing whenever it rains.
“One important thing that we have identified is waste or rubbish that people have been throwing into the drains whenever it rains. So you realise that it chokes most of the culverts downstream, thereby flooding over and water finding its own way to people’s houses,” he said on Citi Eyewitness News on Tuesday May 26.
Mr. Ajannor described the situation as largely an attitudinal problem and called on the media to support public education efforts to address it.
He noted that despite ongoing flooding challenges in some communities, NADMO had already put in place strong preparedness measures for the rainy season.
“This is an attitudinal issue and we also want to admonish the media to assist us in this direction. Because in terms of preparedness this year we had prepared very well. When I say we prepared very well it means all measures and systems that we have put in place to reduce flood impact before, during and after, we have done it,” he added.
His comments come as the National Disaster Management Organisation has activated emergency operation centres nationwide in response to heavy rains that have triggered flooding in parts of Accra, leading to submerged homes and damaged property.
The activation is aimed at improving coordination of rescue and relief efforts, with response teams placed on standby in flood-prone communities across the country as the rainy season intensifies.
NADMO officials say the decentralised system allows rapid deployment of emergency teams once reports of flooding are received. They also note that the teams are equipped to support evacuations and help pump water out of affected homes where necessary.
