Environmental scientist Professor Chris Gordon has called for government officials who approved developments on wetlands and waterways to be held personally accountable, saying poor planning decisions have contributed to Ghana’s recurring flood disasters.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Gordon said the country’s flooding problem extends beyond heavy rainfall and is rooted in administrative decisions that permitted construction in flood-prone areas, including wetlands and mangrove ecosystems.
“We should follow those documents, find out who signed that particular document, and have them brought to book,” he said.
“They will say that they did nothing wrong. But the fact is that they have created a disaster that is going to cost millions just because of their signature,” he added.
His comments follow severe flooding in Accra after torrential rains inundated homes, disrupted transport networks and prompted emergency rescue operations across several communities.
Gordon said weak enforcement of planning regulations and poor urban development decisions had significantly increased the impact of flooding, particularly through construction on wetlands and floodplains.
He also questioned approvals granted for large-scale developments in environmentally sensitive areas, warning that such decisions continue to expose residents to danger while increasing the cost of disaster response and recovery.
According to him, Ghana’s recurring floods reflect longstanding governance and planning failures rather than isolated weather events.
“Everything goes with impunity left and right,” he said, arguing that ordinary citizens continue to bear the consequences of decisions made by public officials.
His remarks add to growing calls for greater accountability in urban planning and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations as authorities assess the impact of the latest flooding in Accra.
