Decades of Inaction: Ghana's Governments Slammed Over Chronic Flooding Crisis

Political Finger-Pointing Over Persistent Water Management Crisis

The Executive Secretary of the National Interest Movement, Susan Adu-Amankwah, has levelled sharp criticism at successive governments for their inability to tackle Ghana's recurrent flooding disasters, which have plagued the nation since the 1960s. Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, she stressed that despite decades passing, meaningful progress remains elusive, with administrations continuing to sidestep responsibility through political blame-shifting rather than delivering concrete solutions.

Adu-Amankwah expressed frustration at what she termed a "political football" being played around the flooding issue, dismissing the practice of attributing blame based on which administration faced the worst floods. She argued that Ghana possesses the institutional capacity and personnel required to address the crisis, but leadership has consistently failed to prioritise the necessary interventions.

Recent flooding across parts of Ghana has once again exposed weaknesses in drainage infrastructure and urban planning. The disasters have displaced residents, disrupted livelihoods, and highlighted systemic failures in managing water during rainy seasons—a problem that has persisted across multiple political cycles.

Adu-Amankwah called on President John Mahama to demonstrate bold leadership by taking decisive action now, noting that the solutions are known and require only political will to implement. She also urged the President to "redeem himself" from the June 3rd Disaster of 2015, framing flood management as a test of courageous governance rather than partisan politics.