Ghana's recurring floods are caused by failures in governance, not by nature, according to Senyo Hosi. He is a finance and economic expert. Mr. Hosi leads the OneGHANA Movement. He stated this during a discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme. This happened on Saturday, June 6.
Poor leadership and a lack of accountability are the main reasons for these annual tragedies. Mr. Hosi asserted that authorities have failed to enforce planning laws. They also have not held public officials responsible. These actions contribute to the country's avoidable disasters every rainy season.
Ghana faces these problems because of continuous poor planning. The current situation is unlike well-planned societies abroad. In those places, floods are anticipated and managed with proper infrastructure. Mr. Hosi pointed to the June 3, 2015 disaster. That event caused many deaths after severe flooding and a fuel station explosion. He questioned if any government official faced consequences for that failure.
Mr. Hosi highlighted the constitutional duty of public officials. They must protect citizens. However, he noted that waterways have been allowed to be occupied by buildings. This directly contradicts their duty of care. He criticized the construction sector and engineers. He questions why engineers who approve unsafe buildings are not held liable. No engineer has faced public shame or imprisonment for shoddy work. He recalled the Melcom building collapse. Mr. Hosi stated that promises of accountability after such events yielded no results.
He urged the current administration to demonstrate strong leadership. This means holding public officials accountable for flooding incidents. He specifically addressed the President. Mr. Hosi reminded him of his past role during the 2015 disaster. He stated that no one was held accountable then. Successive governments have also failed to act decisively. Mr. Hosi stressed the need for accountability. This is the only way to prevent future tragedies. He believes Ghana must build a culture of responsibility. Otherwise, floods will continue to be framed as political issues and avoidable disasters.
Mr. Hosi’s comments come amid ongoing concerns about urban development. Many areas in Accra and other cities are prone to flooding. This leads to significant economic losses. Businesses suffer damage to property and goods. Public infrastructure is also compromised. The cost of disaster relief and rebuilding efforts places a burden on national finances. Economists often link such problems to weak regulatory enforcement and corruption.
The expert also touched upon the role of urban planning. Ghana’s rapid urbanization has outpaced the development and enforcement of robust urban planning policies. This leads to haphazard construction. Buildings often encroach on natural drainage systems and waterways. This exacerbates flood risks. The lack of serious consequences for developers and officials who defy planning regulations encourages the practice.
Mr. Hosi’s call for accountability extends to all levels of government and the private sector. He believes that naming and shaming is not enough. There must be legal consequences. This would create a deterrent effect. It would encourage adherence to laws and regulations designed to protect public safety and property. Until this happens, Ghana will likely continue to face these challenges each rainy season.