Local Authorities and NADMO Intensify Flood Mitigation and Drainage Improvements Across Ghana

Local assemblies and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) have launched a series of urgent interventions across Ghana to mitigate the devastating impact of seasonal flooding. From Accra to Wenchi, authorities are prioritising the desilting of choked drains, the dredging of long-neglected wetlands, and the enforcement of sanitation regulations. These efforts come as a direct response to recurring drainage failures that have previously resulted in loss of life and significant property damage, particularly in high-risk urban corridors and flood-prone residential areas.

In the Greater Accra Region, the 'Clean Up Accra' initiative has successfully reached the Abokobi Wetlands, where desilting works have commenced for the first time in over a decade. Led by Zoomlion Ghana Limited in partnership with the Ghana Police Service and NADMO, the project aims to restore vital waterways and improve the capital's sanitation resilience. Similarly, the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly has undertaken major desilting operations near Appenteng Hall and other sectors, specifically addressing the heavy sand accumulation flowing from Obuotabri Mountain that frequently blocks local drainage systems.

In the Ashanti Region, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is taking a proactive stance with Mayor Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi personally inspecting flood-prone zones including the Asafo Market and the WAEC drainage area. To ensure compliance with environmental standards, a special task force is set to begin inspections on July 1, 2026, followed by a major clean-up exercise on July 4. This administrative push coincides with desperate appeals from residents along the Santasi-Ahenema Kokoben road, who are calling for the immediate construction of a storm drainage system. District Chief Executive Grace Agyemang Asamoah has pledged to find engineering solutions for this stretch, which saw tragic fatalities during the 2022 flood season.

Further north, NADMO officials in the Wenchi Municipality have issued stern warnings to the local assembly and traditional authorities regarding land management. Yahaya Baro, a Zonal Officer for NADMO, emphasized that the failure to improve drainage in Wenchi could lead to a major disaster. He called on traditional leaders to cease the allocation of land in flood-prone zones and urged landlords to maintain their properties, highlighting the dangers posed by dilapidated structures and buildings constructed directly on waterways.

Collectively, these actions represent a nationwide recognition of the need for improved urban planning and infrastructure maintenance. While the immediate focus remains on desilting and emergency repairs, the recurring nature of these crises has prompted calls for more permanent engineering solutions, such as the implementation of integrated storm drains and stricter enforcement of building codes. As the rainy season continues, the success of these interventions will depend on sustained collaboration between government agencies, private waste management partners, and the general public.