Former Greater Accra Regional Minister Titus Glover has described President John Dramani Mahama’s directive for a comprehensive presentation on Ghana’s flooding situation as a “waste of energy and adrenaline,” arguing that the causes of flooding are already well known and require urgent action rather than further assessments.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, June 9, Mr. Glover criticised the President’s decision to task the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) flood taskforce and other state agencies with preparing a detailed briefing on the country’s recurring flooding challenges.
According to him, government institutions already have sufficient information on the causes of flooding and should shift focus to implementing practical solutions.
“The Local Government Ministry, the Works and Housing Ministry, the Regional Coordinating Councils and the assemblies must work in tandem. This report the President is asking for a briefing on is a waste of energy and adrenaline,” he said.
Mr. Glover urged government to prioritise action over reports, insisting that adequate resources should be allocated to agencies responsible for flood prevention and management.
“He must stop and not hide behind some of these excuses and move. They are not spending money; give money to the people so that they can go and work with it,” he stated.
While criticising the government’s approach, the former minister acknowledged that human activities continue to significantly contribute to flooding, particularly the indiscriminate disposal of waste into drains and waterways. He also pointed to environmental degradation and weak enforcement of planning regulations as key drivers of the country’s perennial flooding challenges.
He accused some traditional authorities of enabling the destruction of wetlands and mangrove ecosystems through land sales, warning that such actions are undermining natural flood control systems.
Mr. Glover’s comments come after President Mahama directed NADMO’s flood taskforce and other relevant state agencies to prepare a comprehensive presentation on Ghana’s flooding situation following recent floods in parts of the country, particularly Accra.
The President said the exercise would help government identify critical flood-prone areas, including restricted waterways, and guide both immediate and long-term interventions to address the recurring challenge.
