By Sarah Baafi
The government has intensified nationwide efforts to address flooding through enhanced drainage works, early warning systems and coordinated institutional response, as part of a broader National Flood Response Strategy.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on January 28, 2026, the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, said a Presidential Task Force on Flooding, established in 2025, is spearheading a multi-agency approach to tackling the growing impact of floods across the country.
According to the Minister, comprehensive drainage assessments have been conducted nationwide to identify flood-prone areas and guide targeted interventions.
“These assessments are helping us prioritise construction, rehabilitation and desilting works where they are most needed to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure,” Hon. Adjei stated.
He disclosed that under the National Flood Control Programme (2020–2024), government has undertaken extensive construction, rehabilitation and desilting of drains across the country, resulting in the construction of approximately 1.76 kilometres of storm drains as of December 2025.
Hon. Adjei further highlighted progress under the Flood Early Warning Response System (FEWS), noting that monitoring equipment has been installed across key water bodies nationwide to improve real-time flood detection and response.
“As part of FEWS, servers have been configured for the Hydrological Authority, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) to ensure timely data sharing and coordinated emergency response,” he said.
The Minister stressed that the integration of infrastructure development with technology-driven early warning systems is critical to reducing the devastating effects of flooding.
“Flood control is not just about building drains; it is about preparedness, coordination and timely response,” he noted.
Flooding remains one of Ghana’s most persistent climate-related challenges, particularly in urban centres where rapid development, inadequate drainage and poor waste management have increased vulnerability.
In response, government introduced the National Flood Control Programme to strengthen drainage infrastructure and improve flood resilience nationwide. The establishment of the Presidential Task Force on Flooding in 2025 marked a renewed commitment to a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to disaster risk reduction.
Hon. Adjei reaffirmed government’s commitment to accountability and sustained investment in flood mitigation, assuring the public that measures being implemented are aimed at building long-term resilience.
“Our objective is to reduce flood risks through sustainable infrastructure, early warning systems and strong institutional collaboration,” he assured.
