The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued a warning about potential widespread flooding in several regions as the rainy season draws near.
The Acting CEO of the EPA, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, urged an immediate halt to the encroachment of wetlands to help reduce the adverse effects of anticipated floods.
Speaking to the media after her inaugural lecture at the University of Ghana on Thursday, March 27, 2025, Prof. Klutse stressed the importance of halting construction on Ramsar sites to protect vulnerable areas from the impact of floods.
Her remarks come after heavy rainfall and a storm on Tuesday, March 26, which led to flooding in parts of the Greater Accra Region. The storm also caused trees and billboards to collapse, resulting in damage to vehicles.
“We see flooding happening, and this year, we are going to have a lot of flooding happening. Two days ago or even yesterday [Wednesday, March 26], we had heavy rain for a short period, but heavy and stormy,” she said.
“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.
“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,” Prof. Klutse added.
Prof. Klutse, former Head of the Department of Physics at the University of Ghana, delivered the lecture titled “Physics, Policy, and Politics of Climate Change: The Foundation of Human Survival.”
The lecture brought together many prominent personalities, including the Vice President of the Republic, H E Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.