Engineers President: Accra floods are man-made
The recurring floods that cripple parts of Accra whenever heavy rains fall are no longer simply weather-related events but the result of decades of poor urban planning and environmental neglect, according to the President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), Ing. Ludwig Annang Hesse.
As communities across the capital continue to grapple with perennial flooding, the engineering expert says the city has steadily dismantled the natural systems that once protected it from excessive runoff, creating conditions where flooding has become virtually unavoidable.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Ing. Hesse argued that the predictability of flooding in Accra reflects a long-term failure to manage development, preserve natural drainage systems and protect critical floodwater retention zones.
“These days, we do not need a prophet to tell us that when it rains, Accra will flood,” he said.
According to him, the city’s flooding challenges have evolved from occasional events into a yearly occurrence, signalling a deeper structural problem that extends beyond seasonal rainfall patterns.
“We used to experience floods once in a while, perhaps once in 10 years, five years or even 20 years. Today, we know with certainty that Accra will flood every year, whether it is during the rainy season or not,” he stated.
The engineer attributed much of the problem to rapid urban expansion that has consumed wetlands, low-lying areas and other natural spaces that historically absorbed excess rainwater before it entered major drains and waterways.
“For the past 30 or 40 years, we have done things the wrong way. We have filled all the water-retention areas and low-lying lands, and we have built in places where development should never have occurred,” he explained.
The consequences, he said, are now visible across the capital. Areas that once slowed the movement of rainwater have disappeared, allowing runoff from higher elevations to reach the city much faster than before.
“Water that once took about 12 hours to travel from Aburi to Accra now takes roughly an hour. The natural systems that slowed down the movement of water have been destroyed,” he noted.
Ing. Hesse warned that the continued loss of these natural buffers means floodwaters have fewer places to collect, increasing pressure on drainage infrastructure that is already struggling to cope.
“All the water-retention areas in Accra have been compromised. We have brought this situation upon ourselves. We do not need a prophet anymore,” he said.
Beyond urban development, he identified poor waste management as another major factor worsening flood risks. He noted that drains and waterways across the city are increasingly obstructed by silt, plastic waste and other debris, reducing their ability to carry stormwater effectively.
“The drainage channels downstream, which are already operating beyond capacity, are filled with silt, rubbish and plastic waste,” he said.
The GhIE President also expressed concern about continued construction activities within waterways and former floodwater collection zones, warning that such developments could intensify future disasters.
“We are building in waterways and filling water-retention basins. Places such as Sakumono, Teshie and Korle are all being reclaimed and developed. If we continue on this path, we are heading towards a disaster,” he warned.
While successive governments have invested heavily in drains and flood-control infrastructure, Ing. Hesse believes those efforts have largely focused on managing water after it has already entered the drainage system rather than preventing excessive runoff in the first place.
“Most of the solutions we have pursued over the years have been downstream solutions. We continue to expand drainage systems and invest heavily in them, but because the natural water-retention areas have been compromised, the water still overwhelms the system,” he explained.
As an alternative, he advocated a shift toward upstream flood management measures that would reduce the volume of water entering drains during heavy rainfall events.
“The only viable option left is for each household to retain the rainwater that falls on its property for a period and release it gradually after peak flooding has passed,” he said.
Although he acknowledged that implementing such measures across the city would require significant planning and public cooperation, he argued that restoring balance to Accra’s water management system will require a new approach that addresses the causes of flooding rather than merely responding to its effects.
“This is the only realistic option left to address Accra’s drainage challenges and minimise flooding in the city,” he stated.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the increasing frequency and severity of flooding in the capital, with engineers and urban planners warning that without decisive intervention, the challenge could continue to escalate in the years ahead.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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