Afotey‑Agbo Blasts Authorities: “Desilt the Drains Now — Accra’s Floods Were Preventable”

Former Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Laryea Afotey‑Agbo has stressed the urgent need for desilting major drainage channels as part of efforts to curb the perennial flooding that continues to batter Accra during the rainy season.

His comments follow the devastating floods that swept through several parts of the capital on Monday, June 29, after hours of torrential rainfall submerged roads, homes, and businesses, disrupted traffic, and left many residents stranded.

Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, July 4, Afotey‑Agbo argued that authorities had ample warning of the heavy rains and should have taken proactive steps to minimise the impact.

According to him, while the demolition of unauthorised structures by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council was necessary, it should have been immediately followed by an aggressive desilting exercise to ensure the city’s drainage network could carry floodwaters.

He insisted that local assemblies had a responsibility to clear the drains right after the demolition exercise rather than waiting until the rains had already begun.

“If reports had been given earlier of heavy rain, then we should have prepared for what happened. We should have recruited people and worked on the drains. We should have focused on the Kpeshie Lagoon and the Ramsar sites, which we did by carrying out the demolition of unauthorised structures.

“Desilting of the drains should have followed immediately after the demolition exercise to ensure that the major drains were ready for the floodwaters.”

— CitiNewsRoom