Former Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has described Accra’s recurring floods as a “collective failure” of both successive governments and residents.
Speaking on ABC News GH on Tuesday, May 20, he emphasized the need for a united front in addressing what he called the capital’s “perennial flooding canker.” According to him, the crisis cannot be resolved unless both state actors and citizens take joint responsibility.
“It’s a collective failure, there must be a collective [effort],” he stressed.
Oppong Nkrumah urged government to prioritize proper waste management and infrastructure planning, warning that failure to do so will only lead to increased frustration.
“If we don’t go through the proper ways of managing waste and infrastructure, it’s going to be frustrated,” he said.
He lamented that despite years of flooding episodes, the needed systemic overhaul has not been sustained. The former minister noted that ad-hoc responses will not yield the needed results.
He concluded by calling for a well-funded, long-term strategy to deal with the floods.
“We need to put a clear, credible plan — if not, nothing will change,” he warned. He added that such a plan must not rely solely on government but also incorporate citizen contributions.
“My hope will only be hanging on a credible plan which is funded,” he said, noting that a shared financing model could unlock the solutions Accra so desperately needs.
