Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe and Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has called for a fundamental shift in Ghana’s approach to flood management, urging policymakers to move beyond emergency responses and adopt long-term climate-resilient urban planning strategies.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, June 10, Mr. Shaib argued that the recurring floods in Accra and other parts of the country demonstrate the failure of existing approaches that focus largely on disaster response after flooding occurs.
“The recent floods in Accra have once again reminded us of how vulnerable our cities have become in the face of changing rainfall patterns and a changing climate,” he said.
According to him, Ghana has for years followed a predictable cycle of responding to floods through relief efforts and desilting exercises, only to return to the same challenges during subsequent rainy seasons.
“How many more times will we rebuild the same communities after the same disaster before we change the way we build our cities? Before we change our habits? Before we enforce accountability?” he questioned.
Mr. Shaib noted that flooding is not merely the result of heavy rainfall but is increasingly linked to the manner in which urban communities are developed.
“The challenge is not simply that we have too much rain. The challenge is that we have increasingly developed our communities in ways that leave water with nowhere to go,” he stated.
He cited several flood-prone communities within the Weija-Gbawe Municipality, including Wiaboman, White Cross, Tetegu, Oblogo, Weija, Gonse and Glefe, where residents continue to suffer losses from recurring floods.
The MP stressed that Ghana must transition from “fighting water to managing water” by adopting strategies that slow, store and safely channel stormwater while allowing natural infiltration into the ground.
He advocated the introduction of climate-sensitive building regulations, mandatory water impact assessments for major developments, rainwater harvesting systems, limits on excessive paving and stricter enforcement against developments on waterways.
Mr. Shaib further argued that wetlands, floodplains and natural drainage corridors should be protected as part of the country’s flood defence infrastructure.
“Our wetlands, floodplains, green corridors and natural drainage channels are not empty lands waiting for development. They are functional safety zones and part of our national flood protection system,” he said.
He urged government to develop a comprehensive Greater Accra Flood Resilience Plan that would bring together engineers, environmental scientists, urban planners, local assemblies and communities to tackle flooding through coordinated long-term interventions.
“The cost of prevention will always be less than the cost of rebuilding homes, restoring infrastructure and repairing lives after every disaster,” he added.
