By Adnan Adams Mohammed
Following weeks of devastating downpours that have submerged major cities and ground economic activities to a halt, the Eminent West Africa Nobles Forum (E-WANF) has urgently called for the declaration of a state of emergency.
The President-General of the Forum, Dr. Richard Asiedu, who doubled as the Agona Kwanyako Nkosuohene has made a direct appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to invoke constitutional powers to avert an impending catastrophe and prevent further loss of human lives.
According to the Forum, traditional methods of mitigating seasonal floods have officially hit a dead end. Despite the presence of public education initiatives and a Presidential Task Force designed to clear waterways, enforcement remains dangerously crippled at the local government level.
”It appears the normal processes of dealing with flooding in the country have failed, including public education and the setting up of a Presidential Task Force to demolish illegal structures on waterways and unauthorized places… The Municipal, Metropolitan and Districts Assemblies are unable to effectively manage the problem of flooding in our communities… due to weak enforcement and other challenges”.
Dr. Asiedu emphasized that the crisis is fundamentally driven by human behavior and a severe lack of municipal oversight, pointing out that “flooding in the country is largely due to indiscipline among residents rather than poor drainage design as human activities obstruct flow of water”.
Haunted by the Ghost of June 3
The recent severe weather has reawakened deep-seated trauma across the country. Recent downpours have crippled major business districts and residential areas, including Odawna (Nkrumah Circle), Weija, Kasoa Old Barrier, Dansoman, Mallam Junction, Kaneshie, Accra Central, Adenta, and Tema. Beyond the capital, major urban centers like Tamale, Kumasi, Takoradi, and Cape Coast have similarly suffered severe flooding and structural damage.
The Forum noted that the current devastation feels terrifyingly familiar to the June 3, 2015, Nkrumah Circle Disaster, which claimed at least 150 lives.
”The June 3, 2015 flooding (Nkrumah Circle Disaster) which killed at least 150 people, injured others, destroyed properties, including shops, goods, and structures, is still fresh in the memories of Ghanaians”.
Disappearing Wetlands and Rapid Urbanization
E-WANF notes that what used to be seasonal flooding has now evolved into a structural crisis. Rapid urbanization and fragmented management have led to massive encroachment on vital ecological shields. Crucial Ramsar sites around Densu, Delta, and Sakumo—wetlands meant to act as natural floodplains—are “virtually disappearing” under estate developments. Furthermore, key marshlands in the Airport area of Accra that once absorbed heavy runoff from the Akuapim Hills have been paved over by builders.
With drains currently being used as “outlets for solid waste,” cities are now flooding even during relatively low rainfall.
The Call for Drastic Constitutional Action
With the Ghana Meteorological Authority warning of even heavier rains ahead, E-WANF believes nothing short of emergency executive powers can correct the course. Dr. Asiedu is urging President Mahama to invoke Article 3.1 (9) of the 1992 Constitution to bypass bureaucratic delays, deploy security agencies, and aggressively dredge and demolish structures blocking water channels.
”President Mahama should, therefore, invoke Article 3.1 (9) of the 1992 Constitution, as another option, to facilitate demolitions, dredging, and deployment of security agencies, in flood-prone areas, to bring ‘environmental discipline,’ especially concerning the building of structures”.
As the country braces for the coming months, the Forum states that the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) must aggressively step up its public education, push early warnings, and wage a fierce campaign against building on waterways. However, without the swift declaration of a state of emergency to force “environmental discipline,” the country remains at the mercy of the next downpour.
