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July 12, 2026
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Arthur Kennedy Writes: Rains, flood and sanitation
Money
Policy
Opportunity
Growth
Key Points
- Recent severe floods in Ghana have exposed the nation's persistent and critical sanitation crisis, leading to deaths and property destruction.
- The article criticizes the government's recurrent, ineffective clean-up exercises and the lack of concrete long-term drainage plans, policies, and accountability for officials.
- Poor sanitation costs Ghana an estimated $290 million (1.6% of GDP) annually, excluding health costs like malaria and cholera, with only 25% of Ghanaians having access to good sanitation.
- The author highlights systemic issues including building in drainage plains, a significant cut in the sanitation budget by the current government, and a failure to learn from past disasters.
- It calls for fundamental changes: adequate sanitation budgets, waste-to-energy initiatives, holding incompetent officials accountable, and implementing policies like mandatory property insurance.
Why This Matters
This article highlights a critical, recurring national crisis with severe economic, social, and health implications for Ghana. It underscores the urgent need for robust policy implementation, accountability, and sustainable waste management strategies to prevent future disasters and improve public welfare, which directly impacts national development and citizen well-being.
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