The Center for Social Innovation and Democratic Thought (CSIDT) has called on businesses to play a more active role in tackling Accra’s recurring flooding, describing the problem as not only an environmental and humanitarian issue but also a major threat to Ghana’s economy.
In a press statement, the policy institute said the recent floods in Accra, which claimed lives, displaced families and caused extensive property damage, highlighted the urgent need for a national approach that goes beyond government intervention.
The Centre welcomed the government’s decision to allocate GH¢350 million for flood relief and mitigation but said long-term success would depend on stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“Flood resilience is no longer solely a government responsibility. It is a national economic imperative that demands the active participation of the private sector, civil society and citizens,” the statement said.
According to CSIDT, every major flood disrupts businesses, damages factories, shops and warehouses, interrupts supply chains, forces workers to stay home and increases insurance costs, with the resulting losses ultimately affecting consumers through higher prices and slower economic growth.
The Centre argued that businesses have a direct financial interest in reducing flood risks and should become strategic partners in building a flood-resilient Accra.
It urged business associations, banks, manufacturers, insurers, property developers, transport operators and telecommunications companies to support drainage improvement projects, recycling initiatives, sanitation campaigns and digital flood-monitoring systems.
The think tank also encouraged companies to invest in rainwater harvesting projects, green infrastructure, community education programmes and business continuity plans to protect workers and operations during periods of extreme weather.
“Flood resilience should be viewed not as a cost but as an investment that protects assets, improves productivity and strengthens investor confidence,” it stated.
Five priority actions
CSIDT proposed five key measures it believes could significantly reduce flooding within the next 18 months if implemented through a partnership between government and the private sector.
The first recommendation is the establishment of a National Flood Management Standard, supported by an Accra Flood Operations Centre to coordinate drainage management, sanitation, emergency response and public communication.
The Centre also called for the rehabilitation and expansion of drainage infrastructure, particularly in flood-prone areas such as Kaneshie, Circle and Weija, while encouraging private companies to support such projects through their corporate social responsibility programmes.
It further urged greater investment in technology, including digital flood-risk mapping, artificial intelligence-supported forecasting, satellite monitoring and SMS and WhatsApp-based early warning systems.
CSIDT also stressed the need for sustained public education on sanitation and environmental responsibility, saying government, businesses, religious organisations, schools and the media should work together to change public behaviour.
Finally, it called for stricter enforcement of land-use regulations by halting new developments in flood-prone areas until proper risk assessments are conducted and taking action against illegal construction on waterways and wetlands.
National partnership
The Centre maintained that Ghana’s flood problem cannot be solved by government alone and called for a broad national partnership involving the private sector, local authorities, traditional leaders, academia, civil society organisations and citizens.
It described the government’s GH¢350 million intervention as an opportunity to attract additional private investment into long-term flood resilience initiatives.
“If Government provides the leadership, businesses provide innovation and investment, and citizens embrace responsible environmental practices, Ghana can substantially reduce flood losses within the next two rainy seasons,” the statement said.
CSIDT added that Ghana’s goal should not simply be to recover more quickly after floods occur but to ensure that fewer floods become disasters in the first place.
“The objective should not merely be to recover faster after floods occur. It should be to ensure that fewer floods become disasters in the first place, and this will be good for business,” the Centre concluded.
