Ghana’s efforts to tackle perennial floods and offer relief to victims have received a boost as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) approves a US$250,000 (about GH¢3 million) to support victims of Ghana's recent devastating floods, the Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.

Taking to his official Facebook page, the North Tongu Member of Parliament indicated that the local bloc has approved the financial assistance for the flood victims.

He shared, "I wish to announce, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, that the Foreign Ministry has just been notified by ECOWAS that they have decided to donate US$250,000.00 (about GH¢3 million) to Ghana for victims of the recent devastating floods".

The minister assured the public that the entire amount would be transferred to the appropriate authorities once it is received by the ministry, while expressing its gratitude to ECOWAS.

"The Government of Ghana conveys boundless appreciation to ECOWAS for their solidarity and true African compassion," he added.

The donation comes in the wake of severe flooding that affected several communities across Ghana, displacing residents, destroying property and leaving many families in need of humanitarian assistance.

The heavy downpour that flooded major parts of Accra, leading to loss of lives, properties and displacement of people, has sparked several recommendations from experts.

Post-flood initiatives and expert recommendationsFollowing the June floods this year, President Mahama flew a helicopter over the capital to inspect the extent of damage and then linked the cause to engineering and human activities, after which he ordered a disbursement of GHC300 million from the contingency fund for mitigation efforts and relief.

Consequently, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) announced a cleanup to distil gutters, clear refuse and make way on waterways to avoid a future occurrence.

A phased dredging, desilting and demolition exercise also began across parts of Accra as part of the government’s efforts to reduce the city’s flood risk.

The first phase of the operation commenced at New England, behind the Airport Hills and Mayfair Garden Estates, before extending to the Tesa Dam in East Legon and Oyarifa. The Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Stan Xoese Dogbe, and the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Adjei, with support from the Coordinator of the Flood Mitigation Task Force, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, have been mandated to supervise the exercise.

However, the Ghana Institute of Geoscientists (GhIG), a professional body made up of experts who study the Earth, its materials, processes, and natural resources, in a statement dated July 6, suggested that Ghana’s flooding problem should not only be treated as an emergency after disasters happen, but as a scientific and planning issue that needs long-term solutions.

Consequently, they recommended what they describe as “three urgent actions that can be implemented without delay”, including the need for the government to adopt scientific tools to map flood-prone areas to prevent and avoid such disasters.

“First, the government should commission a rapid geohazard mapping exercise for the most severely flood-affected districts, using existing satellite imagery and remote sensing data, to identify high-risk zones and inform emergency shelter and resettlement decisions”, parts of the statement read.

Also, it suggests that authorities, including the District Assemblies, be barred from issuing permits for works such as the erection of structures in floodplains and waterways, citing that this comes at no cost but remains an important move in the fight against flooding in Accra.

“Second, District Assemblies should immediately suspend the issuance of development permits in known floodplains and geologically unstable slopes pending a geoscientific site assessment. This step costs nothing but can prevent future loss of life and property, it added.

Third, “GhIG calls on NADMO to formally co-opt member geoscientists into its current field assessment teams, so that geological expertise informs the damage assessment process already underway.

"These immediate measures, taken together, can begin to shift Ghana's flood response from pure reaction toward evidence-based action, and lay the groundwork for the longer-term reforms that GhIG has outlined and is ready to contribute to, including a National Geological Hazard and Flood Risk Atlas. As part of GhIG’s contribution to long-term solutions, GhIG has officially launched the "Geoscience for a Safer Ghana Initiative."