By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The management of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has warned of potential widespread flooding across the country with the onset of the rainy season.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the EPA, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, speaking to the media after delivering her inaugural lecture at the University of Ghana on Thursday, March 27, 2025, underscored the urgent need to halt construction on Ramsar sites.
According to her, immediate action is needed to stop all forms of encroachment on wetlands to minimize the devastating effects of expected heavy rains. She, therefore, urged authorities and the public to take proactive measures to prevent further encroachment on flood-prone areas and mitigate the risks of severe flooding.
The Acting CEO’s warning comes in the wake of a severe downpour and storm on Tuesday, March 26, 2025, which triggered flooding in parts of the Greater Accra Region, causing trees and billboards to collapse and damaging several vehicles and other properties
“We see flooding happening, and this year, we are going to have a lot of it. Two days ago, or even Wednesday, March 26, we had heavy rain for a short period, but it was intense and stormy.
These are some of the extreme weather events we should expect this year, and we need to prepare our adaptation plans to withstand their impact.
There are a few things we do that cause flooding. We must stop building on waterways. No matter how heavy it rains, water should be able to flow into wetlands or areas designed to store excess water,” she noted.
