Floods: National House of Chiefs advocate for long-term engineering solutions

The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, has made a passionate appeal to government to find permanent, pragmatic solutions to Ghana’s perennial flooding crisis following a devastating 48-hour downpour that claimed at least 12 lives.

The torrential rains caused widespread destruction across Accra, Tema and other parts of the country, with victims including women and children. The disaster also displaced thousands of residents, triggering a large-scale coordinated rescue operation involving the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service.

Speaking at a meeting of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II extended the House’s deepest condolences to bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He stressed that the recurring nature of flooding in the country calls for a shift from emergency response to long-term prevention.

He urged government to implement robust engineering and infrastructural measures to permanently avert such seasonal disasters.

“We cannot continue to treat a recurring seasonal problem with temporary solutions,” he said, calling on state authorities to prioritise urban planning, clear choked waterways and strictly enforce building regulations to protect lives and property.