Former Chief Executive of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has warned that Ghana’s recurring flooding challenges, particularly in Accra, will persist unless authorities strictly enforce existing laws and urban planning regulations.
According to him, Ghana already has adequate by-laws and regulatory frameworks to manage development and protect the environment, but weak enforcement, indiscipline and corruption continue to undermine efforts to address the flooding problem.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, July 4, Vanderpuye said both public officials and ordinary citizens have a responsibility to ensure compliance with laws designed to prevent disorderly development and environmental degradation.
His comments come in the wake of the heavy rains on June 29, which caused widespread flooding across several parts of Accra, submerging homes and businesses, disrupting traffic and rendering major roads impassable.
Vanderpuye stressed that infrastructure projects alone cannot permanently solve the flooding crisis without discipline and accountability.
“If you ask me what we need to do to resolve this problem, I will say first and foremost, discipline. People in authority, state actors, and citizens all have a role to play. We cannot continue doing things the same way and expect different results,” he said.
He argued that corruption and undue influence often weaken the enforcement of planning regulations, allowing individuals to build in waterways and other restricted areas, thereby worsening the impact of floods.
Vanderpuye warned that when public officials compromise standards for personal gain or external pressure, the consequences are borne by entire communities during heavy rainfall.
“We should avoid a situation where somebody thinks they can pay money and do whatever they want. At the end of it all, we all suffer the consequences,” he stated.
The former DRIP boss also called for greater public awareness and responsibility, urging citizens to respect planning regulations and support efforts to protect drainage systems and waterways from encroachment.
He maintained that lasting solutions to Accra’s flooding problem require a collective commitment from government institutions, enforcement agencies and the public, driven by discipline, accountability and the elimination of corruption.
