President Mahama Orders Comprehensive Flood Audit as NDPC and Lawmakers Demand Institutional Accountability

In the wake of devastating floods that have submerged parts of the capital and displaced numerous families, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and a specialized flood taskforce to produce a comprehensive report identifying flood-prone areas and outlining long-term mitigation strategies. Speaking at the Accra International Airport, the President emphasized that illegal construction on waterways and poor sanitation practices have significantly exacerbated the crisis. He called for a strict crackdown on encroachment in restricted zones and urged state agencies to move beyond reactive measures, insisting on the enforcement of planning regulations to protect lives and property as the peak rainy season approaches.

Adding weight to the calls for reform, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has attributed the recurring disasters to systemic institutional failures within Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Dr. Thompson criticized local authorities for failing to implement drainage plans established as far back as 2017 and for prioritizing ceremonial awards over practical safety solutions. He warned that the heavy concentration of economic activity in Greater Accra—which accounts for 38% of the national GDP—creates a high-stakes environment where weak enforcement of building codes could lead to catastrophic economic and human losses.

In Parliament, the debate over flood management has intensified, with the Minority Caucus demanding the immediate presentation of the government's Anti-Flood Taskforce report for scrutiny. Legislators, including Jerry Ahmed Shaib and Vincent Oppong Asamoah, have called for a shift toward climate-resilient urban development and bold political will to demolish unauthorized structures on wetlands. While some officials, such as Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, have appealed for patience to allow technical studies to conclude, other MPs highlighted that the disappearance of natural ponds and the stalling of the World Bank-funded Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) program due to squatters and armed encroachers have left the city increasingly vulnerable.

To address immediate threats, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak announced the deployment of 70 excavators seized from illegal mining operations to NADMO for a nationwide desilting exercise. Simultaneously, the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC), led by Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has declared a heightened state of readiness. This includes identifying temporary shelters for evacuations and intensifying drainage clearance in critical zones like Odawna Sahara and Adabraka ahead of the Homowo festivities. As heavy rains are forecast to continue, the national focus remains on whether these administrative directives will translate into the rigorous enforcement and infrastructure improvements needed to break the perennial cycle of flooding.