Environmental scientist, Prof. Chris Gordon has attributed the recurring flooding in parts of Accra to the construction of buildings in areas designated as waterways and natural drainage paths.
According to him, unchecked development and the destruction of natural landscapes have disrupted water flow, increasing the risk of flooding in several communities across the capital.
His comments come in the wake of recent flooding incidents that displaced residents and prompted the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other agencies to demolish structures considered to pose risks to lives and property.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Monday, June 8, Prof. Gordon said the flooding being experienced in areas such as Oyarifa was a predictable consequence of rapid urban development.
“You don’t need to be a prophet to predict these things. If you look at the foothills of the Akwapim Range, what used to be farmlands and forest areas has now been taken over by buildings. So, it is not surprising that Oyarifa and areas like that will suffer floods,” he said.
Prof. Gordon explained that the replacement of natural vegetation and permeable surfaces with buildings and paved areas has reduced the land’s ability to absorb water, forcing runoff into communities and waterways.
“This is science. It is cause and effect. You cannot cheat science, and you cannot cheat nature. We have built in places that we should not build. We’ve created areas that are impervious to water. The water has to go somewhere, and as a result, we will have flooding,” he stated.
He stressed the need for stricter enforcement of planning regulations and better land-use management to prevent further flooding and safeguard lives and property.
