Discipline, accountability key to ending Accra floods — Vanderpuye

Former Chief Executive of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has stated that Ghana's persistent flooding problem, particularly in Accra, will continue unless discipline and accountability become central to the enforcement of planning regulations and environmental laws.

According to a report by citinewsroom.com on July 5, 2026, Vanderpuye said the country already has the necessary by-laws and regulatory frameworks to guide development and environmental management, but weak enforcement, indiscipline and corruption have rendered them ineffective.

Vanderpuye maintained that while infrastructure development remains important, it cannot by itself solve the perennial flooding challenge if authorities fail to enforce existing regulations.

"If you ask me what we need to do to resolve this problem, I will say first and foremost, discipline. People in authority, state actors, and citizens all have a role to play. We cannot continue doing things the same way and expect different results," he said.

He argued that the failure to enforce planning regulations has allowed individuals to flout building codes and undertake developments in waterways and other restricted areas, worsening the impact of flooding.

According to him, corruption and undue influence often undermine enforcement efforts, enabling some developers to bypass regulations without facing consequences.

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"We should avoid a situation where somebody thinks they can pay money and do whatever they want. At the end of it all, we all suffer the consequences," Vanderpuye stated.

Vanderpuye urged both public officials and citizens to uphold existing by-laws and support efforts to protect drainage systems and waterways from encroachment.

He stressed that tackling Accra's flooding crisis requires a collective commitment from government institutions, enforcement agencies and the public, adding that consistent enforcement of regulations and accountability are essential to achieving a lasting solution.

His comments come in the aftermath of the heavy rainfall on Monday, June 29, 2026, which triggered widespread flooding across parts of Accra.

The floods submerged homes and businesses, disrupted vehicular movement and left several major roads impassable, once again exposing the city's vulnerability to heavy rains.

MRA/EB

Watch a bird's-eye view of how illegal structures fuel flooding in Accra