The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has attributed the recurring flooding across the country to widespread indiscipline and political interference in urban planning and enforcement of building regulations.
Speaking on Nhyira FM’s Kro Yi Mu Nsem show on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, NADMO’s National Public Relations Officer, Abbah Kojo Harrison, said the country’s tolerance for rule-breaking far outweighs its capacity for enforcement.
“The capacity for indiscipline in the country is greater than the capacity for enforcement,” he told Barima Kofi Dawson-Akokoa.
According to him, developing land in waterlogged areas is not inherently prohibited but must follow proper engineering standards and due process.
“The fact needs to be established that building in waterlogged areas is not a sin, but there is a need for proper engineering. When you go to Dubai or Tokyo, they build houses on reclaimed land and over water, so the same can be done here in Ghana,” he said.
However, he noted that many developers bypass permit and engineering approval processes due to cost and bureaucracy, leading to unsafe construction in flood-prone areas.
He also identified estate developers as key contributors to the problem, alleging that some exploit political connections to flout regulations.
“One of our biggest problems is with estate developers, a sector that features a lot of politicians. They undertake huge construction projects in waterlogged areas, and many do not seek permits,” he said.
He explained that proper approval for construction in such areas requires clearance from the Ghana Hydrological Authority, the Environmental Protection Authority, and NADMO, before final authorization from local assemblies.
He warned that skipping these steps puts lives and property at serious risk during heavy rainfall.
Abbah Kojo Harrison also highlighted poor waste management practices, noting that dumping refuse into gutters during rainfall worsens flooding in cities such as Accra and Kumasi.
He urged residents, especially those in flood-prone areas, to relocate to safer locations, warning that heavier rains are expected in the coming days.
He further called for stricter enforcement of building codes and a depoliticised approach to urban planning to reduce the human and economic cost of recurring floods.
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