As Ghana grapples with the aftermath of devastating floods that have claimed lives, displaced families, and destroyed property across parts of Accra and southern Ghana, a renewed public debate has emerged over how billions of cedis allocated for sanitation, drainage, and flood mitigation have been spent over the years.
The debate intensified following the circulation of a social media post by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who cautioned government against "stealing in the name of flooding" by awarding fresh contracts without first accounting for previous expenditure on similar interventions.
His comments come just hours after President John Dramani Mahama announced the immediate release of GH₵300 million from the Contingency Fund for emergency flood relief and mitigation.
A Four-Year-Old Document Resurfaces
At the centre of the renewed discussion is a document dated March 17, 2022, purportedly issued by the Controller and Accountant-General's Department.
The document instructs the transfer of GH₵100 million from the Sanitation and Pollution Account to Dredge Masters Limited, a company associated with the Jospong Group of Companies.
According to the document, the payment was intended as settlement for work executed under the Accra Sanitary, Sewer and Storm Water Drainage Alleviation Project Phase III.
While the document has circulated widely on social media in recent days, it relates to a payment made in 2022 rather than the current administration's emergency flood allocation.
"Don't Steal in the Name of Flooding"
In his commentary, Manasseh Azure argues that Ghana has spent hundreds of millions of cedis over many years on sanitation, dredging, and desilting projects with little visible improvement in flood-prone communities.
He questions why additional public funds should be committed to similar interventions before previous expenditures have been fully accounted for.
According to the journalist, successive governments have repeatedly awarded sanitation-related contracts while flooding continues to worsen.
He contends that public officials should first demonstrate the effectiveness of earlier projects before approving new large-scale spending.
Questions Over Sanitation Contracts
The commentary also revisits long-standing concerns regarding sanitation contracts awarded to companies within the Jospong Group.
Manasseh criticises recent claims suggesting that the cancellation of parts of Zoomlion's Youth Employment Agency (YEA) sweeping contract contributed to worsening sanitation and flooding.
He argues that the company had managed major sanitation contracts for nearly two decades, yet many urban centres continued to experience poor waste management and blocked drainage systems.
The investigative journalist further questions whether assemblies have been adequately empowered to enforce sanitation by-laws after many sanitation functions were outsourced.
Calls for Greater Transparency
The renewed discussion has generated broader calls for transparency in the management of public funds allocated to flood prevention.
Many governance advocates argue that before additional contracts are awarded, government should publish comprehensive reports detailing:
- Previous dredging and desilting projects.
- Contractors engaged.
- Funds disbursed.
- Project completion status.
- Measurable outcomes.
- Independent technical assessments.
They maintain that such disclosures would strengthen public confidence and ensure better value for money.
Beyond Dredging
Experts have consistently noted that flooding in Accra cannot be solved through dredging alone.
Recurring floods have been linked to several structural challenges, including:
- Poor urban planning.
- Buildings constructed on waterways.
- Inadequate drainage infrastructure.
- Plastic waste blocking drains.
- Weak enforcement of environmental regulations.
- Rapid urbanisation.
- Increased rainfall intensity associated with climate change.
Many urban planners therefore advocate a comprehensive approach combining infrastructure investment, stronger law enforcement, environmental protection, and public education.
Government's Current Response
The current administration has announced that the newly released GH₵300 million will be divided equally between immediate humanitarian relief and long-term flood mitigation measures.
Security agencies, including the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), have also been deployed to support rescue and recovery efforts in affected communities.
Government says the intervention aims both to assist victims immediately and reduce the impact of future flooding.
The Bigger Debate
The discussion sparked by Manasseh Azure's commentary reflects a broader national concern over public accountability.
While many Ghanaians agree that emergency funding is essential to support flood victims, there is also growing consensus that future investments should be accompanied by transparent procurement, rigorous oversight, and measurable outcomes.
As government begins implementing its latest flood response programme, citizens and civil society organisations are expected to closely monitor both the disbursement of relief funds and the execution of mitigation projects.
For many observers, the challenge is not simply spending more money on flood prevention, but ensuring that every cedi allocated delivers lasting improvements for communities repeatedly affected by flooding.
Editorial Note: The payment letter referenced in this article dates to March 2022 and relates to an earlier flood mitigation project. Its circulation has reignited debate about historical spending on sanitation and drainage infrastructure. The authenticity and context of the document, as well as the performance of the referenced contract, should be assessed through official records and relevant oversight institutions.
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