Flooding in Accra a National Warning Sign, Engineer Calls for Sustainable Urban Development
The recent flooding that swept through parts of Accra has reignited concerns about Ghana’s urban planning systems, with a leading engineering professional describing the disaster as a national wake-up call for sustainable development and stricter enforcement of planning regulations.
Speaking on Bolga FM’s Tingmaalgo Sanga programme, Engineer John Amoah, Northern Sector Chairman of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET-Ghana) and Head of Estates Development at St. John Bosco Training College in Navrongo, urged authorities and stakeholders across the country to treat the incident as a critical lesson rather than an isolated event affecting only the capital city.
According to him, the flooding underscores the urgent need for proper physical planning, sound engineering practices, and strict adherence to building regulations in all parts of Ghana, particularly in the Northern regions and within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Engineer Amoah stressed that professionals involved in the built environment, including engineers, architects, surveyors, planners and other development experts, must work collaboratively to ensure that land acquisition, infrastructure projects and housing developments conform to approved planning schemes and technical standards.
He noted that many of the factors contributing to recurring floods in urban centres are linked to unplanned settlements, encroachment on waterways, inadequate drainage infrastructure and widespread disregard for environmental and planning regulations.
He further emphasized that these challenges can be significantly reduced if authorities provide prospective landowners with proper planning guidance before development begins and ensure that all construction projects undergo the necessary approval processes.
Engineer Amoah warned that without deliberate efforts to strengthen planning enforcement and promote sustainable development practices, communities across the country will remain vulnerable to the increasing impacts of flooding and other environmental disasters.
He called on policymakers, local authorities and development practitioners to prioritize resilience in urban planning, stressing that coordinated action and regulatory compliance are essential for building safer and more sustainable communities.
The flooding in Accra, he said, should serve as a reminder that Ghana’s future development must be guided by long-term planning principles capable of protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure from the effects of climate-related challenges.
Source: Joseph Napoleon Anaaya
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