Flooding Is a National Security Threat, Not Just a Seasonal Problem — Henry Quartey

Former Interior Minister Henry Quartey has made a strong call for Ghana to reclassify flooding as a national security matter, insisting that the country's approach to the perennial problem has been far too passive and reactive. Mr Quartey made the remarks in a formal statement amid fresh concerns following heavy rains that have caused widespread disruption across several parts of the country.

"Flooding must no longer be regarded merely as an environmental or seasonal challenge. It is fundamentally a national security issue," Mr Quartey stated, pointing to the toll floods continue to take on human lives, property, livelihoods and public health.

The former minister argued that tackling the problem demands what he described as "bold, courageous, deliberate and decisive leadership" — including the strict enforcement of physical planning regulations, the protection of waterways and floodplains, and the demolition of unauthorised structures that block drainage channels. He acknowledged that some of these decisions would be politically uncomfortable but insisted they were necessary in the national interest.

Prevention Over Reaction

Mr Quartey was emphatic that Ghana must shift its focus from disaster response to disaster prevention. "Prevention will always be more effective, less costly and far more humane than responding to avoidable disasters after lives and livelihoods have already been lost," he said. He urged government institutions and relevant stakeholders to develop and implement a long-term, coordinated strategy that addresses the structural and root causes of flooding rather than simply managing its aftermath.

His statement arrives at a time when communities across Ghana are again grappling with flood damage following recent downpours, reigniting longstanding debates about the enforcement of building codes and the state of the country's drainage infrastructure. Critics have long argued that political will — rather than resources — remains the biggest obstacle to lasting solutions.

Mr Quartey's call adds to growing pressure on authorities to treat flooding with the same urgency afforded to other threats to public safety and national stability, particularly as climate patterns continue to intensify seasonal rainfall across the sub-region.