In recent decades, flooding has become an all-too-familiar event in many parts of Ghana, especially in urban centres such as Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi. Heavy rainfall, once seen as a blessing for agricultural productivity, now triggers panic and distress among city dwellers. Roads become impassable, homes submerged, businesses disrupted, and, tragically, lives lost.
Year after year, discussions come up, promises are made, and then silence—until the next flood. Flooding is a challenge in many developing countries due to both man-made and natural causes. The socio-economic impact of flooding is often so huge that it is even difficult to quantify it. Livelihoods are lost, families are displaced, investments are lost, businesses are disrupted, and poverty levels rise, among others.
These negative impacts suggest that more should be done by key stakeholders to address the issue of flooding. Many reasons have been attributed to the cause of flooding in our cities. Some of these reasons have included urban sprawl, development in waterways, uncontrolled disposal of solid waste, and low-capacity drains which are quickly overwhelmed by the first few hours of torrential rainfall, among others.
Traditionally, the narrative has been centered around inadequate drainage infrastructure, poor urban planning, and underinvestment in city engineering solutions. While these are undeniable contributing factors, there is a growing consensus among urban planners, policymakers, and environmentalists that the real root cause may lie elsewhere: in the attitude of the people and institutions towards environmental stewardship, urban discipline, and civic responsibility.
Ghana’s flooding problems often begin with a very human tendency—indiscipline. Walk through any Ghanaian city and one can easily observe the nonchalant attitude toward waste disposal. Plastic bags, water sachets, food containers, and other non-biodegradable materials are routinely thrown into open drains and streets. The results are devastating. These drains, already limited in capacity, become choked and unable to carry stormwater efficiently during heavy rains. The outcome? Instant flooding, even from relatively short downpours.
Moreover, building on waterways and in flood-prone areas continues unabated, despite repeated warnings and demolitions by the city authorities. In many cases, it is alleged that some developers collude with corrupt officials to obtain permits or ignore legal provisions altogether. Enforcement of land use regulations is inconsistent, often marred by interference and lack of coordination among agencies. This lack of civic responsibility extends to institutions as well. Agencies tasked with maintaining drainage systems often wait until the rainy season to desilt drains, leading to reactive instead of proactive planning. Local governments, though under-resourced, sometimes fail to prioritize sanitation and environmental health in their budgets and programming.
Ghana does not lack the technical know-how or financial resources to address urban flooding. Several engineering studies, including the Accra Sanitary Sewer and Stormwater Drainage Alleviation Plan, have outlined detailed interventions to mitigate flooding. These include constructing underground drains, improving waste collection systems, expanding green spaces to absorb runoff, and relocating communities from high-risk zones. Additionally, technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and early-warning flood models are available to monitor rainfall patterns and manage urban water flow more effectively.
But here lies the paradox: even the most advanced infrastructure will fail if the population continues to misuse the environment. For example, state-of-the-art drains will still clog if people keep dumping refuse into them. Emergency response systems become irrelevant if evacuation orders are ignored. The World Bank, in a 2021 report, stressed that investment in public infrastructure must be accompanied by behavioural change campaigns and citizen engagement strategies. Without public buy-in, technical solutions cannot succeed. Community ownership and civic responsibility are key.
The Way Forward – Changing Minds, Not Just Drains
To combat flooding effectively, Ghana needs more than concrete culverts and bulldozers—it needs a cultural shift. This shift must be led by government, schools, traditional authorities, media, civil society, and the private sector. From basic schools to tertiary institutions, civic and environmental education must be mainstreamed and emphasized. Children should grow up understanding the connection between waste disposal and flooding. There must be consistent enforcement of sanitation by-laws and building codes. Offenders, no matter their status, should face the full weight of the law.
The idea that laws are negotiable must be dismantled. Leadership at all levels must set the tone by prioritizing sanitation and modeling discipline. Ministers, mayors, MPs, and assembly members must be concerned with the environmental health of their constituencies. Waste management companies, construction firms, and civil society can collaborate with local governments to provide technical, logistical, and financial support for flood control initiatives, in private partnership programmes.
In conclusion, flooding in Ghanaian cities is not just a problem of clogged drains or poor city layouts—it is a reflection of our collective attitude towards the environment, law, and one another. If we truly want to eliminate urban flooding, then we must start by looking in the mirror. It is time for a change—not just in our systems, but in our minds. Thus, Ghana’s problem is a combination of both attitudinal and technical aspects.
“The environment is a mirror of the people’s behaviour. If we abuse it, we shall suffer the consequences. If we nurture it, it will protect us.”
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By: Dr. Ernest Mensah Abraham
Acting Dean, FMS
UPSA
