The United Party (UP) as expressed deep concern over the recurring flooding situation in Accra and other parts of Ghana, describing the annual disaster as a long-standing national failure that continues to endanger lives and destroy property.
In a media release signed by the party’s Director of Communication and Spokesperson, Solomon Owusu, the UP said it was disappointed that decades after Ghana’s independence, authorities have still failed to implement a lasting solution to the perennial flooding problem.
According to the party, flooding in Accra has persisted for more than six decades, recalling that as far back as 1963, national newspapers were already highlighting the capital’s vulnerability to floods.
The UP criticised successive governments, particularly the administrations of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress, for what it described as ineffective and expensive flood-control strategies.
The statement argued that huge sums of money have been spent over the years on desilting the Odaw drain and other flood mitigation projects without producing meaningful results.
The party further referenced previous promises by the former NPP administration to transform parts of the Odaw basin into a modern development zone with luxury hotels and recreational facilities, a vision the UP claimed never materialised.
While acknowledging that flooding is a global challenge affecting both developed and developing countries, the UP cited recent flood disasters in parts of Europe, the United States, and Asia as evidence that climate change continues to worsen weather conditions worldwide.
The party pointed to severe flooding incidents in Brussels, flooding along the Guadalupe River in Texas, and monsoon-related disasters in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, which have displaced millions and claimed lives.
Despite these global examples, the UP insisted that Ghana’s flooding crisis is not solely caused by heavy rainfall or poor sanitation habits but also by weak engineering systems and poor urban planning.
According to the statement, countries such as the Netherlands and Singapore, despite being located below sea level in some areas, have succeeded in preventing frequent flooding through advanced engineering and effective planning systems.
The party therefore called on the current government to revisit and implement the original master plans developed for Accra and other major cities in the 1960s.
The UP specifically referenced planning frameworks developed by British architects Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew, as well as German consultant town planner Hubert O. H. Hoegg under the administration of Governor Frederick Gordon Guggisberg.
According to the party, the master plans for Accra, Tema, Kumasi, and Sekondi-Takoradi were abandoned following the 1966 coup d’état and should now be revived and updated to reflect Ghana’s current population growth and urban expansion.
The UP noted that the original Accra plan was designed for a population of about 400,000 people, whereas the city’s current population exceeds 2.5 million residents.
Beyond infrastructure reforms, the party also proposed what it described as a “Behavioural and Mindset Change Policy” aimed at promoting discipline, patriotism, respect for law and order, and improved work ethics among Ghanaians.
The statement stressed that effective governance, accountability, and humility among public officials would be essential in addressing the country’s flood challenges.
The party extended its sympathies to victims affected by the recent floods across the country and urged government to urgently consider the proposals outlined in the statement to help prevent future disasters.
By 1960news.com
