The Director of Communications for the Bawumia Campaign Team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye has criticised the government’s way of handling flooding in Accra and questioned the effectiveness of measures announced after recent disasters. He argued that the current administration has experience from previous years in office and therefore should have been better prepared for the annual rains.
Aboagye contended that many of the key figures in government have served in earlier administrations and were familiar with the country’s recurring challenges. The NPP Member said expectations are high because many voters believed that previous experience would translate into stronger governance.
The politician stated that flooding has remained a challenge for decades due to changes in the city’s planning and drainage systems. He however argued that successive governments had traditionally undertaken preventive measures before the rainy season to minimise the impact on residents.
According to him, activities such as dredging drains, desilting waterways and public education campaigns had often been carried out ahead of heavy rains. Aboagye suggested that the current administration has not demonstrated the same level of urgency in preparing for the season.
He questioned the government’s response after recent floods caused deaths and property destruction in parts of Accra. The politician said the situation raises concerns about whether lessons from past disasters have been fully applied.
“This is the same President who campaigned on experience. Vote for me because I have seen it before. One of the reasons why John Mahama, His Excellency, won the election was because people thought and believed that because he has been in the office before, so he has foreknowledge.”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye
Aboagye referred to the June 3, 2015 flood disaster and said it remains one of the most significant tragedies in the country’s history. He noted that several interventions and assessments were undertaken after the event and argued that such knowledge should have informed present day planning.
The NPP Member also questioned the work of the anti-flood task force established by the government. He said public attention has been drawn to assessment tours and inspections carried out by officials, yet little information has been provided on the implementation of recommendations.
Furthermore, Aboagye argued that citizens deserve regular updates on strategies being pursued to address flooding. He said the public has a right to know the short term, medium term and long term plans being implemented to reduce future disasters.
Calls For Results Grow As Flood Concerns Persist
Miracles Aboagye challenged government to focus on delivering solutions to recurring floods instead of engaging in political exchanges. He argued that leaders who are in public offices did so on the basis of promises and should therefore be judged by their performance.
The communications director recalled statements made by President John Dramani Mahama while in opposition concerning flooding in Accra. He said the President previously linked the situation to leadership failures and had assured Ghanaians that effective action would be taken when given the opportunity.
Aboagye insisted that public criticism of government performance should not be described as a blame game. He argued that democratic accountability required citizens and political actors to assess whether elected leaders were meeting expectations.
The NPP Member stressed that responsibility rested with those currently in office. He said leadership carried an obligation to address challenges confronting citizens, particularly when such issues had featured prominently in political campaigns.
“There is no game. There is no Mahama. Akufo-Addo is not here. I am blaming the leader. There is no blame game; it is not a game. Mahama is the President. He is the one who referenced the President when he was in charge. He did nothing wrong. He was in opposition and was calling out the leader. Nobody is blaming anybody. Akufo-Addo is gone. Who is blaming Akufo-Addo? He has done his part. We are blaming the leader now – the President. It is not a game.”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye
The politician said voters supported leaders based on manifestos and public commitments. Consequently, he argued that the focus should be on the implementation of those promises and the outcomes delivered to citizens.
He further stated that residents affected by floods are primarily interested in practical interventions that would protect lives and property. Aboagye said public discussions should centre on the effectiveness of government actions and the progress being made in addressing vulnerable areas.
He said every government inherited challenges, yet the responsibility of leadership was to confront them and produce measurable results. He added that recurring floods require sustained action and transparent communication from authorities. He added that citizens would continue to expect clear evidence that commitments made on flood prevention were being translated into practical measures on the ground.
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