The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued a stark warning about the likelihood of severe flooding across parts of the country as the rainy season intensifies.

“We see flooding happening, and this year, we are going to have a lot of flooding happening. Two days ago or even yesterday, we had heavy rain for a short period, but heavy and stormy,” said Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, the Acting CEO of the EPA.

Her caution comes in the wake of a powerful storm on Tuesday, March 26, which caused significant flooding in the Greater Accra Region, toppling trees and billboards and damaging vehicles.

Professor Klutse stressed that extreme weather events are expected to increase this year, making it critical for authorities and citizens to take proactive measures.

“These are some of the extreme events we are going to be having this year, and we need to prepare our adaptation plan so that we can survive the impacts when they happen,” she stated.

A key contributor to the persistent flooding, she noted, is human activity, particularly construction on waterways. She called for urgent action to prevent further encroachment on wetlands, which play a crucial role in absorbing excess water during heavy rains.

“There are a few things we do that actually cause us the flooding. We have to stop building on waterways. So no matter how heavy it rains, water should find its way running into wetlands or areas that are supposed to store water,” she warned.

Professor Klutse made these remarks while addressing the media after delivering her inaugural lecture at the University of Ghana on Thursday, March 27. She reiterated the need for authorities to enforce regulations on construction and protect Ramsar sites from encroachment, stressing that failing to do so will only worsen the nation’s flood crisis.

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