Ghana allocates up to GH¢350 million for flood response amid calls for preventive investment

Severe floods hit Accra on 30 June 2026, prompting the government to release emergency funds. President John Mahama ordered GH¢150 million for relief and GH¢150 million for mitigation, while the Interior Ministry later announced a total allocation of GH¢350 million (GH¢200 million for relief and GH¢150 million for flood control). The differing figures from the finance and interior ministries highlighted concerns about transparency and the reliance on contingency funding for a disaster that is becoming increasingly predictable.

Former Dormaa East MP Paul Twum Barimah urged a shift from reactive relief to preventive measures. He cited the US$350 million World Bank‑backed Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project, which he said faces funding shortfalls, and a dormant US$7 million early‑warning system. Barimah called for greater investment in flood‑prevention infrastructure, operational early‑warning alerts, and enforcement of drainage‑zone regulations to protect lives and property.

Both pieces stress that Ghana’s current approach relies on ad‑hoc budgeting and that a longer‑term, proactive financing strategy is needed to address recurring flood risks.