THE FLOODS ARE HERE AGAIN

Page 7: Daily Graphic, May 22, 2012. LAST Saturday, a violent windstorm accompanied by torrential rains hit the southern parts of the country, causing considerable damage to lives and properties. There are indications from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) that the country should brace itself for more of such storms in the coming weeks, particularly in the rainy season. It is reassuring that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) seems to have put in place measures to minimise the impact of any disaster during the rainy season. It claims to have obtained excavators and towing machines for rescue operations, as well as embark on educational campaigns to sensitise the public to environmental practices. The question the Daily Graphic, however, hesitates to ask is: How ready are we for this year’s rains? In the heat of last season’s rains, the authorities embarked on an exercise to clear all unauthorised structures on water courses. Unfortunately, some squatters along the Odaw River became the only victims of the removal of unauthorised structures. Even, then, some of the structures are back, while other squatters, especially scrap dealers, conduct brisk business along the drains. What happened to the properties earmarked for demolition because they were on water courses? Have the owners undertaken any major works to prevent a repeat of the perennial flooding of their homes and holding residents in the area hostage? It is a fact that floods come partly as a result of human action, although we cannot hold back the rains. Poor drains, poor solid waste management systems, building on water courses and climate change have all been identified as the causes of the flooding we experience in the country. It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic thinks that our authorities need to pursue programmes and projects that will help change the attitudes of the people. We are familiar with assurances by city authorities to curb the flooding, but nothing seems to happen after the rains have stopped. Procrastination, it is said, is the thief of time. While the Daily Graphic appreciates the work of NADMO and Zoomlion in trying to minimise the impact of any flooding, we urge those engaged on the de-silting of the drains to speed up the processes to help achieve maximum impact. It is also important that Ghanaians do their part by living responsible lifestyles and living by the rules. It is unreasonable to build on water courses and turn around to blame the government for not doing anything to help in times of disaster. It is also not uncommon to find Ghanaians throw garbage into the drains when they can easily put it in refuse bins. We have a long way to go but we can turn things around by respecting the bye-laws of the local authorities with the statutory responsibility for spatial planning and development. With the rains around the corner, we expect the authorities to walk the talk to fix the drains to contain the floods.