The Works and Housing Minister, Kenneth Gilberyt Adjei, has assured residents of the Greater Accra Region that Government has put in place, measured to expand as well as rehabilitate the drainage system to curb the recurrent flooding in the region.
The Minister said this in a press release issued after a tour of flooded areas in Accra on June 29.
“Government is also advancing broader interventions, including the expansion and rehabilitation of drainage infrastructure, enforcement of development controls in floodplains, strengthening of early warning systems, and the restoration of wetlands, lagoons, and natural water detention areas to reduce national flood vulnerability,” he wrote in the statement.
He said the Ministry is taking urgent steps to undertake extensive desilting and excavation of major drainage channels and waterways that have become silted and obstructed following the recent heavy rains, with the aim of improving the flow and discharge of stormwater runoff.
According to him, “This effort will be complemented by critical construction works, including the development of new drainage channels aligned with naturally occurring water pathways to restore and enhance the efficient movement of water.”
The Minister urged residents of Accra to make their safety a paramount concern.
“While these efforts continue, the Ministry urges all residents, particularly those living near rivers, lagoons, drains, and low-lying areas, to prioritise safety and strictly adhere to established flood safety protocols. Residents are advised to move to higher ground when necessary, avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, and ensure children are kept away from flooded areas to prevent accidents and exposure to waterborne diseases,” he stated
Here is the Minister’s full statement:
Fellow citizens,
1. This afternoon, I accompanied the President of the Republic, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, and other members of the Anti-Flood Task Force on a tour of the affected areas from the long hours of rainfall into the afternoon of today, 29 June 2026.
2. The tour helped us to, once again, validate the causes of flooding in the affected areas and an evaluation of the remedial solutions being considered.
3. Since 27th June 2026, Accra, Tema and surrounding areas have experienced sustained heavy rains, leading to widespread flooding that has affected homes, businesses, and public infrastructure, particularly in low-lying areas, and disrupted economic and social activities.
4. On behalf of the Government of Ghana and the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, I express my sympathy to all individuals, families, and communities affected by the flooding.
5. We fully appreciate the pain, disruption, and economic hardship that these events will impose on households, traders, transport operators, and businesses. To those who have suffered losses, we wish to assure you that Government remains fully committed to supporting relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts.
6. The current situation once again highlights the growing challenges posed by extreme weather patterns, rapid urbanisation, and increasing pressure on drainage infrastructure. While climate variability continues to intensify rainfall events, the impact of human activities particularly encroachment on waterways, indiscriminate waste disposal, and non-compliance with planning regulations cannot be overstated.
7. Addressing this persistent challenge requires shared responsibility among public institutions, local authorities, traditional leaders, businesses, and all citizens. Sustainable flood management can only be achieved when we collectively protect waterways, maintain proper sanitation, and adhere strictly to land-use and environmental regulations.
8. In response to the ongoing emergency, the Ministry, through the Ghana Hydrological Authority, is working closely with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), security services, and other stakeholders to implement immediate response measures.
9. These interventions include the deployment of emergency response teams, evacuation support where necessary, the provision of relief items to displaced persons, ongoing assessment of damaged infrastructure, and intensified drainage clearing activities in critical flood-prone locations.
10. Over the past few weeks, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with MMDAs, has undertaken extensive enforcement operations across the city to address activities that contribute to flooding. These actions have focused on removing illegal structures and obstructions along drainage channels, waterways, wetlands, and other critical natural water retention areas. The Ministry will continue to work with all relevant authorities to intensify and sustain these enforcement efforts, particularly in protecting waterways and preserving natural drainage systems.
11. In addition, the Ministry is taking urgent steps to undertake extensive desilting and excavation of major drainage channels and waterways that have become silted and obstructed following the recent heavy rains, with the aim of improving the flow and discharge of stormwater runoff. This effort will be complemented by critical construction works, including the development of new drainage channels aligned with naturally occurring water pathways to restore and enhance the efficient movement of water.
12. Government is also advancing broader interventions, including the expansion and rehabilitation of drainage infrastructure, enforcement of development controls in floodplains, strengthening of early warning systems, and the restoration of wetlands, lagoons, and natural water detention areas to reduce national flood vulnerability.
13. While these efforts continue, the Ministry urges all residents, particularly those living near rivers, lagoons, drains, and low-lying areas, to prioritise safety and strictly adhere to established flood safety protocols. Residents are advised to move to higher ground when necessary, avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, and ensure children are kept away from flooded areas to prevent accidents and exposure to waterborne diseases.
14. The Ministry remains steadfast in its resolve to work with all stakeholders to address both the immediate impacts and underlying causes of flooding, while promoting long-term resilience through improved drainage systems, better urban planning, and stricter enforcement of existing regulations.
15. We call on all citizens to support these efforts by refraining from dumping waste into drains, avoiding construction on waterways, and complying fully with environmental and planning regulations.
16. Together, through collective responsibility, discipline, and adherence to safety measures, we can significantly reduce the effects of flooding, safeguard lives and livelihoods, and build safer, more resilient communities for present and future generations.
17. May God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.
HON. KENNETH GILBERT ADJEI
MINISTER FOR WORKS, HOUSING AND WATER RESOURCES TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES
