The Legal Director of the United Party (UP), Andrew Appiah Danquah, has called for stronger institutions to help address Ghana’s perennial flooding problem, arguing that the country’s technocrats and local institutions have a critical role to play in preventing such disasters.
His comments come in the wake of a nationwide clean-up exercise directed by President John Dramani Mahama following recent floods that claimed lives, displaced residents and submerged homes in several parts of the country.
The exercise, which began on Friday, July 10, and continued on Saturday, July 11, saw President Mahama, government officials and members of the public participate in cleaning streets, desilting drains and clearing choked gutters in affected communities.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Saturday, July 11, Mr Appiah Danquah said that strengthening public institutions, particularly at the local level, was key to addressing recurring floods.
“What we need to do is to strengthen our institutions. When it comes to issues like the floods, the bigger problem is those at the district level: the planners, engineers,” he stated.
Mr Appiah Danquah added that effective governance depended on institutions that were both capable and committed to the national interest.
“If we want good governance, then we need to strengthen our institutions. Institutions must be strong and patriotic,” he said.
He said Ghana’s governance challenges extended beyond political leadership.
“What I have realised is that the biggest problem in our political nation is not the politicians, but most of the problems are the technocrats and the people we don’t see. They tend to take advice from the technocrats,” he said.
