Mindset Transformation Initiative (MTI), a Civil Society Organisation focused on promoting right thinking and action to transform Ghana, has called on the government to declare war on illegal practices contributing to perennial flooding in the country.
MTI wants government agencies to “enforce laws without fear or favour, bulldoze illegal structures sitting in waterways, and prosecute offenders,” adding that the laws should “bite and bite hard.”
In a May 19, 2025 statement signed by its Executive Director, Sidney Justin Tehoda, the MTI asserted that, “It is time we declared a bold and unapologetic war on the illegal activities that have become the root cause of these perennial floods.”
The CSO’s call follows recent flooding in the capital after just a few hours of rainfall, which has claimed three lives, destroyed properties worth millions of cedis, and displaced households.
According to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), approximately 3,000 residents in Accra’s Odawna area were affected by floods resulting from the May 18, 2025 downpour.
During an assessment visit to Odawna-Sahara on Monday, May 19, by the Korle Klottey MCE, Alfred Gaisie, NADMO’s Municipal Coordinator, Hendrick Noble Kinah, confirmed the extent of the damage and emphasised that a full report has been compiled to guide the next steps.
“About 3,000 households have been affected in the Odawna community. We started the assessment yesterday, we went through all the flooded municipal and everything is fine except Odawna, which is flooded and there are problems.
“This time around, we are going to fix it, so we have gathered a report to be taken to the administration and the administration will take it and make sure they deal with it,” he told the media.
The MCE, addressing the media after the visit, acknowledged the long-standing nature of the issue and stressed the Assembly’s commitment to a permanent solution.
He hinted at exploring the use of internally generated funds to help expand the area’s earth drain and prevent future disasters.
“We have had this challenge over the years. As an Assembly, what we are looking at is to try and fix the challenge and not for us to walk in here every time and sympathise with people, collect refuse and then give them something. It is time for us to look at what we need to do about it, and we have decided to fix this once and for all.”
Meanwhile, MTI believes the perennial flooding in the country, particularly the national capital, is not the cause of nature.
“The floods are not nature’s punishment; they are the fruits of our own indiscipline, neglect, and silence,” the statement added.
It further called on stakeholders, including government institutions, local authorities, traditional leaders, media, civil society organizations, and the citizenry to be up and doing and perform their respective roles to ensure the matter is abated.
It urges these stakeholders “to take the bull by the horn. Enough of the talking. Enough of the blaming. Enough of the “annual mourning” season that follows every major rainfall.”
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