The Director for Human Settlement, Environmental Protection Agency, Hope Smith Lomotey, has emphasized that solving Accra’s flooding crises requires both stronger engineering systems and disciplined human behaviour.
In a recent interview on Y107.9FM’S Ryse N Shyne with Brown Berry, the Human Settlement Director explained that the combination of poor settlement planning and disregard for environmental rules continues to worsen the Accra flooding situations.
He noted that whiles inadequate drainage systems expose Accra to flooding, the human factor of building in waterways and dumping refuse into drains makes the problem even, more severe. ‘’Flooding in Accra is booth an engineering and human problem,’’ he stressed, adding that Accra and other flooding areas cannot overcome the challenge unless both sides of the problem are addressed simultaneously.
The EPA Director pointed out that uncontrolled development in flood- prone areas has compounded the crises, with many houses built without proper permits or considerations for drainage paths. ‘’Our settlements are expanding without proper planning, and this is why floods are hitting harder each year,’’ he said, noting that the pace of urbanization has outstripped the capacity of existing drainage systems.
Speaking on enforcement, he admitted that despite EPA’s rules on waterways and buffer zones, enforcement remains weak. He attributed this to both institutional lapses and community resistance. ‘’ People are still duding in buffer zones because enforcement is not strong enough, and sometimes assemblies themselves compromise,’’ he revealed. He added that lack of coordination between agencies often undermines the EPA’s effort to protect natural waterways.
Offering practical solutions, he urged residents, assemblies, and developers to act immediately. He suggested desilting drains regularly, stopping construction in waterways, and adopting proper waste disposal habits. ‘’If residents stop dumping refuse in drains, assemblies enforce rules, and developers respect planning laws, flooding will reduce drastically,’’ he advised. He further encouraged assemblies to invest in community education, stressing that awareness campaigns can change attitudes towards waste management and settlement practices.
Looking ahead, he warned that Accra’s rapid growth and changing rainfall patterns demand stronger planning. He questioned whether current drainage and settlement systems can withstand the next decade. “Our current plans are not strong enough for the next 10 years if we don’t upgrade them now,” he cautioned. He explained that climate change is intensifying rainfall, and without resilient infrastructure, the city risks facing even more destructive floods in the near future.
The EPA Director concluded by calling for collective responsibility. He emphasized that residents must adopt disciplined practices, assemblies must enforce environmental rules without compromise, and developers must prioritize sustainable designs. “Flooding will not stop until all of us play our part, engineers, planners, leaders, and ordinary citizens,” he said.
