The Tema West District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Fidel Bortey, has called for the strict enforcement of sanitation and building regulations to mitigate flooding, saying the devastating June 29, 2026 floods exposed major weaknesses in Ghana’s drainage systems and the persistent culture of indiscriminate waste disposal.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s Nyansapo Fie with host Akosua Gyamfua on the topic, “Mitigating the Impact of Flooding Following the Aftermath of the June 29, 2026 Disaster,” Mr. Bortey said the disaster highlighted the consequences of dumping refuse into drains and allowing construction on waterways.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for declaring the two-day nationwide general clean-up exercise after the floods, noting that the initiative helped desilt gutters and intensified efforts to clean drainage systems across the country.
Mr. Bortey said it is becoming increasingly difficult to classify areas as flood-prone or otherwise due to rapid urbanisation and poor planning. He stressed, however, that the key solution lies in enforcing existing sanitation laws and ensuring proper drainage infrastructure is maintained.
He also blamed some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA) officials and other authorities responsible for enforcing planning and sanitation regulations for what he described as a dereliction of duty. According to him, some officials allow indiscriminate littering and grant permits for developments on waterways because of the wealth or influence of applicants.
“If the right structures had been put in place and the laws strictly enforced, we would not have experienced flooding on this scale,” he stated.
Listeners who called into the programme echoed Mr. Bortey’s concerns and urged authorities to take decisive action. One caller, Yesu Ba Kwaku, appealed to the relevant agencies to strictly enforce sanitation laws and punish recalcitrant offenders to serve as a deterrent.
Another caller expressed frustration over an encroached storm drain in his community, alleging that the obstruction has become a major cause of flooding in the area despite repeated complaints to the authorities. He called on the responsible agencies to intervene before the situation worsens.
The discussion concluded with a shared call for stronger law enforcement, improved urban planning, and greater public responsibility to reduce the impact of flooding and safeguard lives and property.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
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