A Roads Engineer with the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Daniel Okyere, has attributed the recurring flooding in parts of Accra to rapid urban development that has destroyed natural water retention systems and accelerated stormwater runoff into residential communities.
His comments come in the wake of heavy rains that caused flooding in areas such as Adenta, Pantang, and Akobobi, disrupting movement, damaging property, and leaving several roads impassable.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Mr. Okyere said increasing human activities, particularly the conversion of wetlands and retention ponds into residential and commercial developments, have significantly reduced the city’s natural ability to manage stormwater.
Wetland Encroachment Worsening Situation
According to him, vegetation and natural retention areas previously played a crucial role in slowing the movement of rainwater from higher elevations into the city.
“There are a lot of retention ponds that a lot of people have filled and built. Initially, if I should explain, those hills were green, it had foliage. So what happens is that when it starts raining and the runoff flows, the green slows it down,” he explained.
Mr. Okyere noted that the disappearance of these natural buffers means stormwater now travels much faster into urban areas than it did in the past.
“So initially, if it could take one hour for all the water coming from the Green Hills to Accra, it would take an hour. Now, because of human activities, it would take 15 minutes. And that is what we are experiencing,” he said.
The engineer further warned that many wetlands that once absorbed excess rainwater have been encroached upon and built over, removing critical flood-control mechanisms.
“Now, most of them have also been filled, people have built on those waterways. So that is why we are experiencing all these floods, the urban floods,” he stated.
He stressed that unless measures are taken to protect waterways, preserve wetlands, and enforce planning regulations, flooding is likely to become more frequent and severe across parts of the capital.
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