The United Party (UP) has called on the government to revisit and implement the master plans prepared for Accra and other major cities in the 1960s as part of long-term measures to address the perennial flooding affecting lives and property.
A statement signed and issued by the party's Director of Communication and Spokesperson, Solomon Owusu, said despite successive governments investing heavily in drainage improvement projects, flooding, particularly in Accra, had persisted for decades.
It said the challenge required comprehensive engineering solutions, effective urban planning and behavioural change rather than temporary interventions.
Master plans
The statement said repeated desilting of the Odaw drain had achieved little in addressing the recurring floods.
It recalled that flooding in Accra had attracted national attention as far back as 1963 but remained unresolved after more than six decades.
The party, therefore, urged the government to revive the development plans prepared for Accra by British Planners Professor Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew, based on earlier planning initiated under Governor Gordon Guggisberg, with contributions from German Consultant Professor Hubert O. Hoegg.
It also called for the implementation of the 1963 master plans for Accra, Tema, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Kumasi, which it said had been abandoned after the 1966 coup d'état.
The statement said Accra's original master plan was designed for about 400,000 residents, but the city's population now exceeds 2.5 million, necessitating an update before implementation.
Engineering
The UP said that although climate change and extreme weather contributed to global flooding, engineering deficiencies had worsened Ghana's situation.
It cited the Netherlands and Singapore as examples of countries where advanced drainage systems and engineering interventions had reduced flood risks and urged the government to prioritise similar long-term measures.
The party also advocated behavioural change, stronger law enforcement, discipline and responsible leadership to complement engineering solutions.
It expressed sympathy with flood victims and appealed to the government to consider its proposals to achieve lasting solutions to flooding.
