Accra’s flooding crisis is self-inflicted, says Ghana Institution of Engineers President

The President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), Ing. Ludwig Annang Hesse, has attributed Accra’s recurring flooding problems to decades of poor urban planning, environmental degradation, and irresponsible human activities, warning that the capital has effectively created its own flood crisis.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, June 4, Ing. Hesse said flooding in Accra has become so predictable that residents no longer need warnings to expect it whenever heavy rains occur.

“These days, we do not need a prophet to tell us that when it rains, Accra will flood,” he remarked.

According to him, flooding was once an occasional event that occurred every several years, but has now become an annual challenge affecting communities across the city.

“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 said.

Ing. Hesse blamed the situation on decades of unregulated development that have destroyed natural flood-control systems and water-retention areas that previously helped absorb excess rainfall.

“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.

He noted that the destruction of these natural systems has dramatically accelerated the movement of rainwater into the city, increasing the likelihood and severity of flooding.

“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 stated.

The engineering expert warned that most of the capital’s natural floodwater retention zones have been compromised through encroachment and development.

“All the water-retention areas in Accra have been compromised. We have brought this situation upon ourselves,” he said.

Ing. Hesse also highlighted the role of indiscriminate waste disposal in worsening the city’s drainage challenges, pointing to clogged drains and waterways as major contributors to flooding.

“The drainage channels downstream, which are already operating beyond capacity, are filled with silt, rubbish and plastic waste,” he said.

He further criticised the continued reclamation and development of critical flood-prone areas and wetlands, including parts of Sakumono, Teshie, and Korle.

“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.

According to the GhIE President, successive governments have focused largely on expanding drainage infrastructure, a strategy he believes addresses symptoms rather than the root causes of flooding.

“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 a long-term solution, Ing. Hesse advocated for an “upstream” flood management approach that prioritises retaining rainwater closer to where it falls before gradually releasing it into drainage systems.

He suggested that households and property owners should adopt measures to temporarily store rainwater on their premises to reduce pressure on the city’s drainage network 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.

While acknowledging that such measures would require time, investment, and public cooperation, he maintained that they offer the most practical and sustainable solution to Accra’s persistent flooding problem.

“This is the only realistic option left to address Accra’s drainage challenges and minimise flooding in the city,” he concluded.