Flooding in Ghana: A call for action amid political promises and environmental challenges – Samuel Ackom writes

The rainy season typically begins in March, stretching into April and May. In Accra, it turned roads into bodies of water and entire houses into memories.

These rains are part of the annual flooding that Ghanaians endure. As one of the worst-hit areas, Accra often becomes unrecognizable – roads turn into rivers, marketplaces come to a standstill, and lives are forever changed. The Ghana Meteorological Agency warned that this year’s rains would be particularly intense, and so far, 2025 has not disappointed.

As water levels rise, so do voices demanding change – some hopeful, some skeptical, most weary from waiting for promises that fade as quickly as the floodwaters recede.

During the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration on Monday, March 31, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama firmly reiterated that structures obstructing water flow must be removed immediately, as they significantly worsen flooding. The

President’s directive targets unauthorized structures and blocked drainage channels in response to the violent storms that flooded parts of the city and surrounding areas.

Yet, for many Ghanaians, this is a pledge they have heard countless times over the years. While political will is apparent on the surface, Ghana’s persistent flooding crisis requires more than words. It calls for decisive action and innovative approaches to coexisting with water, both practically and literally.Ghanaian fashion

The frustration is just as evident on social media: “Same story, different year,” one user lamented on X.
Yet, others see a glimmer of hope in President Mahama’s directive, viewing it as an opportunity for his second term to address what his first term could not.

Take a step back, and the picture grows even darker. Flooding isn’t just an unfortunate event; it’s a symptom of deeper systemic failures. Urban planning struggles to keep pace with Accra’s rapid growth, drains clog with refuse, and developers routinely ignore regulations to build on floodplains. Climate change exacerbates the crisis, bringing unpredictable rainfall that overwhelms an already fragile system.

Akosua Manu, a mother of three in Osu, Accra, Ghana, knows this all too well. Each rainy season, she watches the water creep closer, her children’s schoolbooks floating in a soggy heap. “They talk, we drown,” she says, a sentiment echoed across X and other social media platforms.

President Mahama’s return to power in 2025 has reignited old debates: Can he succeed where others have failed? His directive points to solutions, but it is merely a drop in the bucket against a tide of systemic challenges—corruption, underfunding, and a public weary of unfulfilled promises.

Some applaud President Mahama’s demolition plan as a step forward; others dismiss it, citing grand projects like the Ghana Bauxite Refinery as proof that “the government’s eyes are elsewhere.” “Fix the drains before you dig for gold,” one trader quipped, a raw and real plea for better priorities.

Solutions exist, but they are complicated. Demolishing unauthorized structures is just the first step, one Mahama’s team says is already underway. The harder task lies ahead: clearing drains, enforcing building codes, and possibly relocating communities. However, the obstacles are daunting – underfunded agencies, powerful interests, and residents who are unwilling to leave.

Experts advocate for long-term fixes, such as flood-resistant infrastructure, but the real question remains: Who will pay for it? And how much longer can Ghanaians wait? The uncertainty lingers—can Ghana turn the tide, or will flooding continue to be an annual ordeal, as predictable as the rains themselves?

Floods don’t wait for politics to catch up. President Mahama’s words have stirred debate, but Ghana’s future depends on whether they lead to real action or fade away like so many before. This is more than a test of leadership; it is a test of resolve. As the waters recede, the clock continues to tick.

Readers, demand more – share your stories, hold those in power accountable. Because this April, as the rains return, Ghana deserves better than another soggy sequel.
As a journalist, I am tired of reporting, “Parts of Accra flooded, submerging roads and destroying properties.”

God bless our homeland, Ghana.