The rains are here again and as usual the same scenes play out every season across Accra where knee-deep water in Kaneshie, Awoshie Weija , Gbawe Adentan and cars floating on the Pantang road and other parts of the capital remains a daily ritual. What was once called “unusual” is now routine. The floods are no longer just a drainage problem. They are a climate problem, for which reason the problem must be tackled with a climate centered approach.
Michael Petit Mawugbe (Efo Mawugbe) is a Communications and Media Specialist, Editor and the President of Online Publishers Association of Ghana (OPAG).
Mr. Roland Affail Monney, former President of GJA tells me floods in Accra used to be rare. Today, a 2-hour downpour is enough to shut down the city leaving the city in a state of comatose. The Ghana Meteorological Agency reports that rainfall intensity has increased over the last 20 years, with more rain falling in shorter periods. This is why our drainage systems, built for a different climate era, must be redesigned to contain the current situation because as it stands, our drainage system simply cannot cope.
It is true that human behavior and poor waste disposal and unplanned construction make the problem worse, but scientifically, they don’t cause the heavier rainfall. According to the climatechange.academy, global warm temperatures mean the atmosphere holds more moisture which means when it rains in Accra now, it rains harder and faster than before. This situation is termed by Scientist “intensification” and any time Accra experiences intensification, Accra seems drowning.
For instance Awoshie and Mallam now floods anytime it rains but this didn’t use to be so some years back.
Part of the reason is that the Ramsar Site at Mallam which normally receives the flood waters has been given off to Private Developers who have taken over large Portions of the protected space which normally receives the water from Awoshie and beyond, so the water struggles to flow out.
This is why as a country we need to be serious and intentional in confronting the situation head on. Adapting to climate resilient strategies in confronting the situation is also critical- which requires action on 3 fronts:
Desilt drains year-round, not just in May and invest in modern storm water systems and protect wetlands that naturally absorb water.
The need to Stop dumping refuse in drains. We are aware that one plastic bag can block a gutter and flood a whole street yet in Accra people prefer to dump heavy bags of refuse whilst raining.
This is where law enforcement is critical in curbing what many have tagged as “the nonsense must stop”.
Government, for that matter Works and Housing Ministry must Integrate climate projections into all urban planning taking into consideration building codes and waterways as the floods of 2026 will be different from those of 2010.
Politicians can do political blame game and debate over whose tenure has witnessed the worst flood disaster but certainly they can no longer debate the climate. The rains are telling us something. Incessant Accra flooding is not just a Ghana problem. It is a climate change signal, written in water on our streets.
Protection of our environment and prioritizing climate change is crucial in curtailing the incessant Accra flooding.
If you think the environment is less important than the economy, hold your breath whilst counting your money for we can’t continue doing same old same solutions and expect different results.
If we act like climate change is still “future talk”, Accra will keep paying for it with every rainfall. The time to adapt is now, while we still have streets left to save.
The Writer Michael Petit Mawugbe (Efo Mawugbe) is a Communications and Media Specialist, Editor and the President of Online Publishers Association of Ghana (OPAG).
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
