Professor Peter Quartey, a prominent economist, has stated that Ghana is incurring billions of Ghana cedis because it consistently fails to prevent floods. He attributes these significant economic costs to poor planning, inadequate infrastructure investment, and ineffective sanitation management across the country. This warning follows recent devastating floods that affected Accra, the Central Region, and other areas, resulting in at least 18 deaths and extensive damage to homes, businesses, and properties.
The economist highlighted that Ghana continues to spend scarce public funds on short-term flood interventions without achieving lasting solutions. Annual government spending on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programmes is between GHS 750 million and GHS 780 million. A substantial portion, 80% to 90%, of this investment relies on funding from international donors. This low domestic investment, coupled with inefficient use of available resources, exacerbates the flood crisis.
This ongoing situation is part of a broader narrative of urban governance challenges in Ghana. Accra's vulnerability to flooding stems from a combination of blocked drains, uncontrolled development, poor waste management, and insufficient enforcement of planning regulations. Years of underinvestment in resilient infrastructure have compounded these issues. The repeated cycle of floods, public outcry, and temporary relief measures indicates a systemic problem.
Professor Quartey, speaking on JoyNews' PM Express Business Edition, expressed deep concern over the inefficient use of resources. He said, “I am very worried because it looks like we are wasting money. We are not investing our money efficiently or properly.” He cited construction projects, such as drainage works near West Hills Mall junction along the Weija-Kasoa Road, as examples of failed public spending where large sums yielded no effective flood control. These new drains are already choked, allowing water to still flood the streets.
The implications of these failures are far-reaching. Beyond immediate damage and loss of life, floods cause significant productivity losses for the economy. Flooded roads lead to severe traffic congestion, increasing fuel consumption and reducing working hours. Businesses face disrupted supply chains, delayed transportation of goods, lost income, and decreased output. Decision-makers must address the root causes of these recurring disasters, including weak law enforcement against illegal construction on waterways and improper waste disposal. The government recently announced a GHS 300 million emergency package for flood relief and mitigation, with half allocated for immediate support and the other half for future risk reduction. However, sustained investment and rigorous enforcement of environmental and building regulations will be crucial to break this costly cycle.