Tackling flooding needs collective effort

 Normally, the coming of the rain is a moment of joy and excitement, because of the significant role it plays in the socio-economic lives of the people.

Rain is crucial, replenishing water resources, sustaining agri­culture and ecosystems, and reg­ulating temperatures, especially in tropical and temperate regions.

However, the country over the years, has experienced flood­ing each time it rains, with the significant social, economic, and environmental impacts, leading to property damage, displace­ment of communities, and loss of lives.

This year too, the situation is not different, and already flood­ing, in its trail, has brought havoc to communities affected by heavy rains.

The situation has escalated with more communities suffering the effects of flooding.

Though flooding is driven by heavy rains, poor urban plan­ning, environmental degradation, and sometimes controlled dam spillage, have also contributed to escalation of the situation.

Lack of proper spatial plan­ning, indiscriminate dumping of waste, choking of gutters and building in waterways continue to aggravate flooding in commu­nities, particularly, in our major cities, like Accra, Tema, Tamale, and Takoradi.

Successive governments have either pledged to, or attempted to deal with the factors that induce flooding, but to no avail.

Despite the government’s efforts to address drainage and flood management, a lot more remains to be done.

In cities where rapid urbanisa­tion has outpaced infrastructural development, the rains seem to expose the glaring inadequacies in the planning of our commu­nities.

The June 3, 2015, flooding, which led to the twin disaster of fire and water, resulting in the killing of more than 100 Gha­naians at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra, remains a grim reminder of how dreadful the rainy season and flooding can be to our society.

It is for this reason that President John Dramani Maha­ma’s directive for all waterways and water receptacles to be cleared, to allow free flow of wa­ter into the sea and rivers is not just gratifying, but also timely.

During an official tour of parts of Accra to assess the city’s read­iness towards this year’s rains, the President issued a directive for the restoration of all ramsar sites and water retention basins, espe­cially the one at Mallam Junction, in Accra.

The tour took the President and his entourage to other flood prone areas, including Achimota, Kaneshie First Light, and Odaw­na at Circle.

Prior to the President’s tour, he had issued a warning during the Eid prayers, in Accra, that buildings in water ways and other unauthorised places should be pulled down.

The Ghanaian Times wishes to commend the President for the proactive measures taken to ensure that as a country, we minimise the damage caused by floods.

However, a multi-pronged approach is needed, includ­ing improved drainage infrastruc­ture, stricter building regulations, public awareness campaigns, and community involvement in cleaning drains and reducing blockages, along with early warn­ing systems and flood emergency protocols.

The paper also suggests a comprehensive and long-term solution to mitigate the impact of flooding.

So, as we go along with the President in his attempt to solve the problem, we have to accept that tackling flooding in the country, requires a collective effort from individuals and mem­bers of the various communities