By King Amoah
As the nation grapples with the devastating impact of the recent flooding particularly in the Greater Accra Region, a renowned Kumasi based cleric has issued a stern call to the government to move beyond rhetoric and implement decisive and lasting solutions to the menanance.
Apostle John Kwaku Appiah, Head Pastor of the Faith Outreach Ministries at Oforikrom in Kumasi has described the current approach by state officials as “hollow noisemaking” that fails to address the root causes of the recurring disaster.
Moving Beyond the Blame Game:
In an exclusive interview with the correspondent King Amoah in Kumasi, Apostle Appiah expressed deep concern over the unprecedented floods that have unsettled the nation and affecting not only the direct victims but also the government, local citizenry, and the international community.
It is time for action and that action must be devoid of the blame game, the clergyman stated.
We have spent too much time on pointing fingers at who caused the flooding.
We now need a strategic and unified front to ensure that these disasters become a thing of the past.
The Debris Trap:
While the Apostle lauded the government’s move to demolish structures situated within the waterways, he warned that the exercise could become counterproductive if not executed with foresight.
Pulling down structures is a laudable step but it becomes a useless exercise if the debris remains in the waterways, he cautioned.
The clergyman reiterated that these rubbles are essentially blockages waiting for the next heavy downpour.
If the debris is not cleared immediately, it will inevitably cause even more greater catastrophes.
Addressing Systemic Failure:
Apostle Appiah linked the disaster to long standing environmental mismanagement.
He pointed to several critical failures by the authorities including,
Inadequate Infrastructure.
The failure to widen city drainage systems to accommodate modern urban expansion factors to flood challenges, he noted.
Poor Urban Planning: The common practice of covering drains with concrete slabs or fencing them off oftenly encourages citizens to treat the areas as refuse dumps.
Lack of Enforcement: The Apostle demanded that the government must take a harder stance against those who sell lands in waterways and individuals who knowingly purchase land in flood prone zones only to look to the state for bailouts when disaster strikes.
He emphasized that if the government implements robust environmental management policies paired with stern punishments for offenders, the nation would save the millions of cedis spent annually on emergency relief operations, funds that could otherwise be directed toward national development.
A Plea for Transparency:
The clergyman commended the government and the general public for their swift interventions and generous donations to aid the victims.
However, he raised a pertinent question regarding the management of these resources:
Will such funds be shared equally, fairly and honestly among the victims?
Apostle Appiah’s message remains clear: The time for talk has passed. Ghanaians are looking for concrete, sustainable and transparent leadership to safeguard the nation from the recurring trauma of floods.
Stay tuned for further reactions and continued coverage on this developing story.
Attached: Apostle John Kwaku Appiah ‘s image
