Dr Ayew Afriye raises alarm over 'disjointed flood response'

Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Parliament, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, has raised concerns over what he describes as a fragmented and poorly coordinated government response to flooding and its public health consequences.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on June 30, 2026, he bemoaned the absence of a substantive Minister of Environment, noting that the shifting of institutional responsibilities for sanitation have created confusion in addressing environmental and public health challenges.

According to him, it remains unclear whether sanitation issues fall under the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, local government structures, or the Ministry of Environment, which he said reflects a broader coordination gap in governance.

'Demand accountability over sanitation funds' - Dr Afriye charges citizens

"Mr Speaker, it's a country that has no Minister of Environment, and in the previous government there was a Ministry for Sanitation and Water Resources. Mr Speaker, currently, I don't know where sanitation issues sit; as to whether it is with the Community Water Sanitation Agency, or it is with local government, or it is with environment [it is unclear]. Mr Speaker, as of now, it's an environmental issue and it is multi-sectorial", he remarked.

The Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore stressed the need for the Ministers of Health, Local Government, and Interior to jointly brief Parliament on the unfolding disaster and the state of emergency preparedness, warning of potential outbreaks of cholera, malaria, typhoid, and other respiratory illnesses among displaced populations.

"Mr Speaker, on flooding and its attendant effects; I wish the Minister of Health was here to also brief us. And that is why some of us are worried about the coordination of your team. It appears so disjointed.

"And this is an emergency situation. All such persons should have been here. The Minister of Environment is no longer with us, but that position appears to be still vacant.

“You need Minister of Local Government to brief us, Minister of the Interior to brief us and Minister of Health to brief us on the outbreak of cholera, malaria, typhoid, the temporary displacement of people, and the consequences in terms of respiratory diseases," he said.

The MP questioned whether the country would continue to rely on emergency budget allocations after each disaster, describing the current approach as reactive rather than preventive.

He further lamented what he termed a “knee-jerk” response to a recurring national problem, noting that severe flooding has been a longstanding issue dating back decades, including major incidents such as those experienced in 1995.

"The people of Ghana have to be briefed. It appears we are not prepared...This is a knee-jerk one. I don't want to be saying to be blaming anybody because this is one catastrophe that comes on an annual basis. Since I graduated from sixth form, I saw a heavy one in 1995. Mr Speaker, probably this will be the heaviest after about 30 years," Dr Ayew Afriye said.

While avoiding direct blame, he called for reflection on past interventions and accountability regarding flood mitigation funds and projects and urged both government and citizens to take shared responsibility in addressing the recurring crisis.

See the video below:



JKB/VPO

Accra Floods: Achimota residents left devastated as homes and businesses go under