Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency following the devastating floods that have ravaged parts of the Greater Accra Region, claiming lives, displacing thousands and causing extensive destruction to homes and businesses.
Speaking during a tour of flood-affected communities in Accra, Dr. Bawumia said the magnitude of the disaster demands an extraordinary national response that goes beyond conventional disaster management measures.
He argued that a state of emergency would enable government to mobilise resources more swiftly, strengthen coordination among state institutions and accelerate relief efforts for thousands of affected residents.
“What is worrying for me is that the forecasts are forecasts of even more rains to come. If there is going to be more rain, I believe that the government could also consider even declaring a state of emergency so that we deal with this in that particular order. This is a really big problem for the country, and we have to put all our energies, all our talents, engineers, bring everybody together regardless of the political party,” Dr. Bawumia said.
The former Vice President expressed sympathy to families who have lost relatives, homes and livelihoods in the disaster and commended emergency responders, volunteers and community members who have been assisting victims under difficult conditions.
He also reiterated his call for national unity in addressing the country’s perennial flooding challenge, urging engineers, hydrologists, urban planners and other experts to work together to develop sustainable solutions that transcend partisan politics.
Beyond emergency relief, Dr. Bawumia stressed the need for sustained investment in drainage infrastructure, stricter enforcement of planning regulations and improved waste management systems to reduce the risk of recurring floods in Accra.
He further urged stronger collaboration among government agencies, local authorities and disaster management institutions to tackle both the immediate humanitarian crisis and the structural causes of flooding.
