News:
July 23, 2026
Finance Minister pledges long-term strategy after devastating June floods that claimed lives and destroyed property
The government will allocate funding in the 2027 Budget Statement to implement a permanent solution to flooding in Accra and other flood-prone areas across the country, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced Thursday.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament, Dr. Forson said the government is moving beyond emergency interventions to tackle Ghana’s perennial flooding crisis, which continues to cost lives and damage critical infrastructure.
Government responds to June 29 disaster
The announcement comes just weeks after heavy rains on June 29 submerged large parts of the capital, disrupting businesses, displacing families and claiming several lives.
“The floods claimed lives, displaced families, destroyed businesses and caused extensive damage to public infrastructure,” Dr. Forson told Parliament. “The government responded swiftly by visiting the hardest-hit communities, releasing funds and organising nationwide clean-up exercises.”
President Mahama directs comprehensive plan
Dr. Forson revealed that President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to develop a comprehensive and sustainable flood management strategy.
“The President has directed the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to develop a comprehensive and permanent solution to flooding in Accra and other flood-prone areas across the country,” the Minister stated.
“Funding for the implementation of this permanent solution will be provided in the 2027 Budget and the Medium Term.”
Long-standing challenge
The June 29 floods once again intensified public demands for investment in:
· Modern drainage infrastructure
· Improved urban planning
· Regular desilting of drains
· Strict enforcement of regulations against development on waterways
Ghana’s capital has experienced recurring flooding for decades, with experts pointing to poor urban planning, inadequate drainage systems, and encroachment on wetlands and watercourses as key contributing factors.
What happens next
The government is expected to provide further details on the proposed interventions when the 2027 Budget Statement is presented to Parliament.
While emergency measures will continue in the interim, the administration has signalled a shift toward long-term, structural solutions aimed at protecting vulnerable communities and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
Ghanamps.com