Ghana is on the brink of another devastating flooding season, and the signs could not be clearer.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has sounded the alarm, cautioning that the nation should brace itself for extreme weather conditions in the months ahead.
Professor Klutse pointed to recent heavy downpours as a grim preview of what lies ahead. On Wednesday, March 26, parts of the country experienced intense stormy rains, an early warning of the extreme flooding that is likely to hit later this year.
The professor’s concerns are not just based on weather patterns but on a far more pressing issue—human activities that continue to aggravate flooding risks.
“There are a few things we do that actually cause us the flooding. We have to stop building on waterways. No matter how heavy it rains, water should find its way running into wetlands or areas that are supposed to store water.”
Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse
Meanwhile, Professor Klutse’s statement highlights a well-documented but largely ignored problem: the reckless encroachment on wetlands and watercourses.
Despite repeated warnings from environmental experts, illegal construction on natural drainage pathways continues unabated.
Homes, businesses, and entire communities have sprung up in flood-prone areas, blocking natural water flow and turning what should have been manageable rain events into full-scale disasters.
The irony is that these disasters are not accidental. They are a direct consequence of negligence at multiple levels—poor urban planning, weak enforcement of environmental laws, and a culture of impunity that allows individuals to build where they shouldn’t.
Professor Klutse stressed that wetlands, including Ghana’s protected Ramsar sites, play a crucial role in absorbing excess rainfall, yet these vital ecosystems are being destroyed at an alarming rate.
Call For Urgent Government Action
The message is clear: without urgent intervention, Ghanaian communities will continue to suffer catastrophic floods, leading to loss of lives and property.
Accordingly, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse called for a national adaptation plan, pointing out the fact that this is not just a suggestion—it is an urgent plea for action.
“These are some of the extreme events we are going to be having this year, and we need to prepare our adaptation plan so that we can survive the impacts when they happen.
Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse
Time and again, flood disasters have exposed the country’s lack of preparedness. Every year, the cycle repeats: torrential rains, widespread flooding, deaths, displacement, and then the usual promises from government officials to find a lasting solution.
Yet, when the waters recede, little is done to address the root causes of the problem.
It is time for Ghana to break this cycle. The government must take decisive steps to halt wetland encroachment and strictly enforce environmental laws.
Urban development must be guided by sustainable practices, and individuals must also take responsibility by adhering to building regulations.
Professor Klutse’s warning underscores a bigger issue—Ghana’s approach to environmental stewardship.
If policymakers fail to act now, they will be directly complicit in the destruction that follows.
The country cannot continue to prioritize short-term development over long-term sustainability.
Infrastructure projects and housing developments must be planned with the environment in mind rather than being driven by commercial interests that ignore ecological consequences.
The EPA, local authorities, and urban planners must work together to ensure that natural drainage systems are protected.
Laws against illegal construction in flood-prone areas must be enforced without political interference.
Citizens, too, must demand better from their leaders and recognize their role in preventing environmental degradation.
Ghana has the knowledge, expertise, and resources to prevent severe flooding—what is lacking is the political will to act.
The consequences of inaction are clear: if authorities fail to implement preventive measures, the country will continue to suffer avoidable disasters.
The solution is not complex: protect wetlands, enforce regulations, and invest in flood mitigation infrastructure. Anything less is a gamble with people’s lives.
As the rainy season approaches, Ghanaians must demand accountability from leaders and insist on proactive measures rather than the usual reactionary approach.
The warnings have been given—what remains to be seen is whether those in charge will finally listen.
