A Plus Says Flooding Crisis Cannot Be Solved Without Tough Decisions on Illegal Buildings

Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as Kwame A Plus, has called for bold and long-term measures to tackle Ghana’s persistent flooding crisis, insisting that politicians alone cannot solve the problem.

Speaking during a live broadcast following the recent floods in Accra, A Plus argued that the country’s flooding challenges are largely the result of decades of poor planning, uncontrolled development, and widespread disregard for zoning regulations.

According to him, many communities across the country were established without proper layouts or approval from planning authorities, leaving governments with enormous challenges when it comes to providing infrastructure and preventing disasters.

“The politician will never solve your problem alone,” he said, stressing that both citizens and state institutions share responsibility for the country’s planning failures.

A Plus maintained that Ghana’s drainage systems were originally designed to serve a much smaller population, but rapid urbanisation and the construction of houses on waterways have placed unbearable pressure on existing infrastructure.

He acknowledged that demolishing buildings obstructing waterways could help reduce flooding but admitted that such an exercise would be extremely difficult because it would leave thousands of families homeless.

Instead, he proposed stricter enforcement of planning laws to prevent the problem from worsening. He suggested that no land should be sold for residential purposes unless it has been properly surveyed, zoned, and approved by the relevant planning authorities.

He further called for tougher sanctions against chiefs, landowners and developers who sell land without approved layouts, arguing that undeveloped lands without proper planning schemes should have their leases revoked.

The Gomoa Central MP also criticised the country’s approach to urban development, saying many people establish settlements before roads, drainage systems, electricity and other essential infrastructure are provided.

He urged district assemblies, planning authorities, assembly members and local leaders to actively report and prevent illegal developments instead of waiting until disasters occur.

A Plus also appealed to residents to stop indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and to challenge anyone attempting to build on waterways within their communities.

Beyond enforcement, he advocated for a more balanced national development strategy by encouraging investment outside Accra to ease congestion in the capital. He argued that creating economic opportunities and major infrastructure projects in other parts of the country would reduce migration to Accra and lessen pressure on its already overstretched facilities.

He concluded that unless Ghana adopts comprehensive town planning policies and enforces them consistently, flooding will remain an annual challenge despite changes in government.

Story By: Abena Nyame