Unchecked Urban Development Fueling Flooding in Accra – Roads Engineer

A Roads Engineer with the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Daniel Okyere, has blamed recurring flooding in parts of Accra on rapid urban development that has destroyed natural water retention systems and accelerated the flow of stormwater into residential communities.

His remarks come in the wake of heavy rains that recently triggered flooding in several parts of the capital, including Adenta, Pantang and Akobobi, disrupting transportation and leaving some roads impassable.

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Okyere explained that the increasing conversion of wetlands, retention ponds and green spaces into residential and commercial developments has significantly weakened the city’s natural flood-control mechanisms.

According to him, vegetation and natural landscapes once played a critical role in slowing the movement of rainwater from higher elevations into urban areas.

“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 said.

Mr. Okyere noted that the removal of vegetation and the expansion of construction activities have dramatically changed the speed at which stormwater reaches communities and drainage systems.

He explained that rainfall runoff that previously took a longer period to travel through natural channels now reaches the city in a fraction of the time, increasing the likelihood of flash floods.

“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 added.

The engineer further highlighted the growing encroachment on wetlands and waterways, which traditionally served as natural retention areas capable of absorbing excess rainwater before it entered drainage systems.

“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.

Mr. Okyere warned that unless authorities enforce planning regulations and protect remaining wetlands and retention ponds, urban flooding is likely to become more frequent and severe as development continues across the capital.