NPP demands long-term flood strategy as Ghana grapples with recurring disasters

The New Patriotic Party has intensified calls for Ghana to adopt comprehensive, long-term solutions to address the country's recurring flooding crisis, arguing that one-off clean-up campaigns are insufficient to tackle the root causes of the problem. The intervention comes weeks after devastating floods swept through multiple regions in late June, prompting the government to launch a two-day national cleaning exercise across seven affected areas.

Akosua Manu, the NPP's spokesperson for Gender and Social Protection, has urged the government to move beyond what she describes as publicity-focused interventions and instead invest in sustainable infrastructure and governance measures. Speaking on Channel One TV, she emphasised that while sanitation efforts play a role, they cannot serve as a substitute for proper urban planning, drainage system upgrades and regular maintenance of water management infrastructure.

The limits of clean-up campaigns

Manu's critique highlights a growing frustration within political circles about the government's approach to disaster management. She pointed out that cleaning exercises, though visually compelling and media-friendly, mask deeper structural problems that leave communities vulnerable to repeated flooding. According to her, focusing on the "optics" and "picture-taking" diverts attention from the genuine infrastructure deficits affecting vulnerable neighbourhoods.

Ghana has experienced increasingly severe flooding in recent years, with the June 29 floods affecting thousands of residents across regions including the Greater Accra Region and Ashanti Region. Informal settlements and areas with poor drainage infrastructure have borne the brunt of these disasters, yet long-term solutions remain elusive. The NPP argues that without addressing factors such as improper waste management, inadequate drainage systems and poor urban planning, Ghana will continue to face similar crises seasonally.

Why it matters for Ghana

Flooding has emerged as one of Ghana's most pressing development challenges, with economic and social consequences that extend far beyond the immediate aftermath of disasters. The recurring nature of these events suggests that current policy responses are insufficient. Communities in flood-prone areas face repeated displacement, property damage and health risks, whilst the national economy absorbs costs associated with emergency response and infrastructure rehabilitation.

Manu's call for "real governance" reflects broader concerns about how government resources are allocated and whether immediate, visible interventions are crowding out investment in permanent solutions. Sustainable flood management requires integrated approaches involving improved urban planning regulations, investment in modern drainage infrastructure, enforcement of building codes in flood-prone areas, and regular maintenance of existing systems. These measures demand sustained commitment and funding beyond what dramatic clean-up exercises typically represent.

The NPP's position also underscores the political dimensions of disaster management in Ghana, where both governing and opposition parties face pressure to respond visibly to public emergencies. However, Manu argues that genuine governance prioritises long-term prevention over short-term optics, even when the latter generates more immediate public relations value.

Path forward

Addressing Ghana's flooding crisis will require coordinated effort across multiple sectors including urban development, environmental management and infrastructure. Experts have consistently highlighted the need for comprehensive drainage master plans, enforcement of setback regulations in flood plains, and investment in green infrastructure solutions. The party's intervention suggests that flooding will likely feature prominently in Ghana's political discourse, with pressure mounting on whoever holds executive power to demonstrate commitment to sustainable solutions rather than reactive measures alone.