Abuakwa South MP and insurance expert, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has called for a stronger national approach to disaster management, arguing that Ghana’s recurring floods and fire outbreaks require more than sympathy and short-term responses.
Speaking on The Pulse on JoyNews on the growing spate of disasters in Accra, he noted that the capital continues to suffer heavy losses each year, with properties destroyed and lives disrupted by floods and fires.
According to him, the situation reflects a mix of natural forces and human behaviour, particularly poor planning, weak enforcement, and lifestyle choices that worsen environmental risks.
“We are not ready to solve anything,” he said, describing what he sees as a recurring cycle of inaction and reaction.
Dr Agyemang explained that since disasters cannot be fully controlled, the country must shift focus towards managing and transferring risk more effectively, particularly through insurance and structured national funding systems.
He pointed to existing legal provisions that already require certain properties, such as commercial buildings and shops, to be insured, but argued that enforcement and coverage remain weak.
Beyond insurance, he proposed the creation of a National Disaster Risk Management Fund, similar to systems used in countries such as Japan, the Philippines, Mexico, India and the United Kingdom.
In his view, such a fund would provide a more reliable safety net when disasters strike, especially when private insurance systems are overwhelmed.
“We have to find a way to either treat it or transfer it to a vehicle that will be more effective in solving it,” he explained, stressing that Ghana must learn from global best practices.
He suggested that the fund could be financed through multiple sources, including special levies, government budget allocations, corporate social responsibility contributions from industries such as mining, and portions of petroleum revenues.
Dr Agyemang also linked the worsening floods in Accra to human activity, including poor waste disposal and encroachment on waterways, warning that these behaviours are increasing the severity of disasters.
“Our attitudes and lifestyles are contributing greatly to this flooding,” he noted.
He cautioned that without a structured national system, Ghana would continue to repeat the same cycle every year, mourning losses, offering condolences, and moving on without lasting solutions.
“Every year we will continue to share, we will continue to empathise with victims, and it can be any of us,” he said.
He stressed the need for a coordinated national disaster risk fund backed by strong enforcement, public responsibility, and sustainable financing to reduce the impact of Accra’s growing climate and human-made risks.
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