GMA demands urgent national action on flooding

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called for immediate and coordinated national action to address Ghana’s recurring flooding crisis, warning that the increasing frequency and severity of floods pose a significant threat to public health, livelihoods and national development.

In a statement dated July 3, 2026, the Association expressed deep concern over the perennial flooding affecting major cities and communities across the country, particularly Accra, noting that the disasters continue to claim lives, displace families, destroy property, interrupt healthcare delivery and heighten the risk of disease outbreaks.

According to the GMA, Accra has experienced recurrent flooding for decades, with major flood events recorded in 2010, 2015 and 2021. However, the Association observed that flooding has become more widespread in recent years, affecting several regions beyond the capital due to a combination of climate change and poor urban planning.

The Association cited preliminary reports from the ongoing flooding, indicating that the Greater Accra Region has recorded 12 deaths, seven missing persons, while about 38,802 people and 7,761 households have been affected. In the Central Region, particularly Cape Coast, 18 deaths have been reported, including fatalities resulting from building collapses. Approximately 1,200 people have also been displaced in the Samreboi enclave in the Western Region, while about 60 communities have been affected in the Volta Region.

The GMA attributed the recurring floods to several long-standing and interconnected challenges, including inadequate and poorly maintained drainage systems, rapid urbanisation and deforestation, climate change-induced heavy rainfall, indiscriminate waste disposal, encroachment on wetlands and natural waterways, illegal mining activities, weak enforcement of planning regulations, political interference, limited public education on flood prevention and infrastructural deficiencies.

It further noted that the situation has been worsened by the approval of illegal developments in flood-prone areas, inadequate funding and manpower for monitoring and enforcement, insufficient legal sanctions against offenders, and inadequate equipment and logistics for emergency rescue operations.

While commending the Ministry of the Interior for its early public risk communication during the ongoing floods, the Association also praised the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ministry of Health for coordinating emergency response and relief efforts.

The GMA, however, stressed that emergency interventions alone are insufficient and called on all relevant state institutions to strengthen disaster preparedness by sustaining the provision of food, shelter and medical care for affected persons. It also advocated intensified community engagement, comprehensive flood risk assessments, routine drainage desilting and waste clearance exercises by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, as well as stronger collaboration with development partners and other stakeholders.

To address the root causes of flooding, the Association proposed a number of immediate, short-term and medium-term measures. These include significant investment in rehabilitating, expanding and maintaining drainage infrastructure, strict enforcement of land-use planning regulations to prevent construction in flood-prone areas, sustained public education on flood preparedness and environmental sanitation, integrated urban planning that prioritises environmental sustainability and green spaces, and stronger accountability mechanisms to improve transparency in flood prevention and management.

The Association also urged authorities to depoliticise flood prevention efforts by building national consensus around mitigation strategies and ensuring that planning laws are enforced without political interference. It further called for public officials who facilitate unauthorised developments that endanger public safety to be held accountable.

Additionally, the GMA appealed for increased investment in emergency response institutions, including NADMO, the Ghana National Fire Service, hospital emergency departments and the Department of Social Welfare, to improve preparedness and response during flood-related emergencies.

The Association urged President John Dramani Mahama to take bold and decisive actions that would deliver lasting solutions to the perennial flooding challenges confronting Accra and other vulnerable communities across the country.

Beyond infrastructure and policy reforms, the GMA advised residents in flood-affected communities to adopt preventive public health measures to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks. It encouraged regular handwashing with soap under running water, drinking safe water, consuming freshly prepared hot meals, ensuring proper waste disposal and seeking prompt medical attention if diarrhoea or other symptoms of illness develop.

Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the Ghana Medical Association pledged to continue working with government, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support practical, evidence-based reforms aimed at reducing the frequency and impact of flooding while safeguarding the health, lives and livelihoods of Ghanaians.

Author: Joyce Owusu

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