The devastating floods that swept through parts of Ghana on Monday should not be dismissed as another unfortunate consequence of heavy rainfall. Communities such as Tse Addo, Teshie Bush Road, Mallam, Lakeside, Dansoman, Adabraka, Circle, Kasoa and Spintex witnessed one of the worst flood disasters in recent times. Homes were submerged, businesses including warehouses, salons, provision shops and restaurants suffered enormous losses, and major roads leading to Dzorwulu, Shangri-La and the Airport became inaccessible. Even more heartbreaking was the loss of lives, including vulnerable children and newborns, while many others had to be rescued from rapidly rising floodwaters. A fire outbreak during the flooding further compounded the suffering of affected residents, many of whom are now looking to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for relief and support. While emergency assistance is necessary, it cannot continue to be the only response to a disaster that has become a recurring national crisis.
The reality is that these floods are largely the result of years of poor urban planning and weak enforcement of our environmental and building regulations. Many residential and commercial structures have been erected on wetlands, mangroves, waterways and estuaries natural ecosystems that are meant to absorb excess water and channel it safely into the sea. Instead, these areas have been reclaimed with sand and concrete, leaving floodwaters with nowhere to flow whenever there is prolonged rainfall. To make matters worse, drainage systems in many parts of our cities remain poorly designed, blocked by indiscriminate waste disposal or left incomplete despite repeated promises. We cannot continue to attribute these disasters solely to climate change or heavy rainfall when human actions, policy failures and institutional negligence have significantly increased our vulnerability.
This tragedy should also prompt citizens to reflect on the role we play in demanding good governance. As the saying goes, “Join the conversation, play a role, learn to knock on the doors of your elected representatives and officials and make meaningful demands, and stop asking for coins. The coins you ask for make you an accomplice to the crime you’re claiming against them. Holding them accountable is asking value for your votes.” For far too long, many have reduced elections to opportunities for receiving short-term handouts instead of insisting on long-term investments in roads, drainage infrastructure, environmental protection and proper spatial planning. A few cedis, food items or campaign gifts can never compensate for a lost home, a destroyed business or the life of a loved one. Our votes should compel leaders to deliver safe communities, enforce the law without fear or favour, and prioritise development that protects both lives and livelihoods.
As a concerned citizen, I believe this disaster must mark a turning point in how we engage with leadership and national development. We must move beyond expressing outrage only after disasters occur and begin consistently holding our elected representatives accountable throughout their tenure. Government agencies must strictly enforce planning regulations, reclaim encroached waterways, invest in resilient drainage infrastructure and strengthen disaster preparedness, while citizens must also refrain from indiscriminate waste disposal and respect environmental laws. As we stand in solidarity with affected families and call on
NADMO and other stakeholders to provide immediate relief, let us also remember that true leadership is measured not by how quickly aid is distributed after a disaster, but by the policies and decisions that prevent such tragedies from occurring in the first place. Ghana deserves leaders who plan, and citizens who demand nothing less than value for their votes.
By Emmanuella Benson
