Planning to corruption: 5 startling revelations about Ghana's flood crisis from Newsfile

Last week began unusually calm. Many wondered if they were in a different city. The usual noise had disappeared overnight, allowing for blessings after a month.

Then the skies opened up, and rain fell heavily. Five lives were lost, and destruction was immense. This was another reminder of Accra's ongoing battle with flooding.

The digital world also reacted, sharing an old Daily Graphic clipping from April 18, 1960. It was titled "When the rains came to Accra." Sixty-five years later, the rains still torment residents without solutions.

Flooding became a hot topic on the May 24 edition of JoyNews Newsfile. Host Samson Lardi Anyenini led a panel discussing one of Ghana's biggest issues.

Here are five key takeaways from their conversation:

1. Planning and Enforcement Issues

Despite knowing when the rainy season arrives, little is done to prevent disasters. Flooding continues to affect areas like Kumasi and Sunyani that were once safe.

Laws exist but are not enforced properly. Amanda Akuokor Clinton from Clinton Consultancy stated that Ghana has a planning and enforcement problem.

She questioned why Ghana, once known for good sanitation, now faces this crisis. Economic Adviser Prof. Sharif Mahmud Khalid agreed that everyone shares responsibility for fixing it.

2. Indiscipline as a Major Cause

Former Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah believes indiscipline causes flooding in Ghana. He said it stems from both law enforcers and citizens ignoring building codes.

People block streets and dump trash into drains without consequences. When confronted, they often blackmail the government to avoid eviction from illegal settlements.

3. Illegal Structures Contributing to Flooding

Building on waterways worsens flooding problems in Accra. People construct homes in unauthorized areas without local authority action.

This disregard for zoning laws is made worse by political reluctance to demolish illegal structures. Residents often threaten electoral backlash if authorities intervene.

President John Dramani Mahama previously promised to demolish illegal structures in flood-prone areas but many remain standing today.

4. Funding Failures in Flood Mitigation

There is a gap between allocated funds and real improvements in flood management. The recurring flooding issue since the 1960s shows a lack of sustained efforts after identifying problems.

Solving Ghana's flood crisis is estimated to cost $5 billion, yet projects like 'Odaw' have not delivered results as expected. In 2024, GH₵8.2 million was allocated by the World Bank for flood mitigation in Accra alone.

For Ms Clinton, it's embarrassing that lives continue to be lost due to floods.

5. Societal Attitudes and Corruption

Prof. Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua Juan noted that poor communities suffer most during floods due to inadequate infrastructure and waste disposal methods leading to clogged drains.

He emphasized that people's attitudes play a crucial role beyond planning issues. Fund diversion by officials prevents money from being used effectively for flood management.

He called for a change in mindset since some individuals profit from recurring flooding problems through bribery within municipal assemblies.

“Every year we see this cycle repeat,” he lamented about poverty production caused by leadership failures affecting vulnerable communities during floods.