Environment and development planning expert Dr. Richmond Yeboah has called on the government to adopt a proactive approach to environmental management, arguing that recurring floods will persist unless authorities focus on prevention rather than emergency response.
Speaking on the issue of Ghana’s flood challenges, Dr. Yeboah said the government bears the primary responsibility for protecting wetlands and Ramsar sites through effective enforcement of existing laws.
“We blame the government because they have control over the laws and their enforcement, so it is their duty to protect wetlands and Ramsar sites,” he said.
He noted that some individuals deliberately disregard planning regulations, and this is precisely why governments must enforce sanctions without compromise.
“We know that some people are strong-headed, and that is why we have laws. Sanctioning offenders should not be compromised,” he stated.
“Dr. Yeboah further argued that political interference often weakens law enforcement, allowing illegal developments to continue until they become national disasters.
According to him, Ghana’s environmental challenges can only be addressed through firm enforcement of planning regulations and sustained preventive measures rather than periodic responses after floods occur.
