Former Presidential Staffer and Director of Communications for the Bawumia campaign team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has blamed the government for the recent flooding crisis in Accra, insisting that leadership cannot escape responsibility by blaming public indiscipline.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Mr Aboagye argued that every society has people who break rules, but it is the responsibility of government to enforce laws, protect citizens and ensure that the actions of a few do not endanger the majority.
“In every society, there will be thieves, there will be criminals, there will be miscreants, there will be deviants, there will be recidivists; they are everywhere,” he said.
According to him, the existence of indisciplined citizens cannot be used as an excuse for leadership failure, especially when floods continue to destroy homes, claim lives and disrupt livelihoods.
Leadership Must Manage Society
Mr Aboagye said the basic purpose of government is to create systems that allow people to live together safely and productively, even when some citizens act irresponsibly.
“But leadership ensures that all these people are able to co-exist in a way that the society thrives,” he stated.
He argued that governments are elected and public institutions are established precisely because society cannot depend entirely on voluntary good behaviour.
In his view, if people build in waterways, dump refuse into drains or act recklessly, the state still has a duty to enforce planning laws, punish wrongdoing and prevent the wider public from suffering the consequences.
“To try and use the indiscipline of a few as a cover for leadership failure is unacceptable,” he stressed.
Anti-Flood Task Force Shows Government’s Responsibility
Mr Aboagye also questioned why the government would establish an anti-flood task force if it did not accept responsibility for dealing with the flooding problem.
He said the creation of such a body was itself an admission that the state had a duty to prevent and manage flooding.
“Why did you form that anti-flood task force? If you didn’t have the responsibility to deal with flood, it means that you acknowledge that it is your responsibility,” he said.
He maintained that government cannot on one hand announce interventions to address flooding and on the other hand shift blame when those interventions fail to prevent destruction.
According to him, accountability must begin with the people entrusted with public authority.
Government Has Failed, He Says
The former Presidential Staffer said the recent flooding incidents exposed weaknesses in both prevention and emergency response.
He argued that the loss of lives, displacement of residents and destruction of property showed that enough had not been done to protect vulnerable communities.
“So the president and the government have failed us. That is the summary of it,” he stated.
Mr Aboagye said the situation represented a breakdown in governance and accountability, especially because flooding in Accra is not a new problem.
He suggested that the country already knows many of the causes, including poor drainage, weak enforcement, poor sanitation, construction on waterways and inadequate planning.
For him, what is missing is not diagnosis but decisive action.
Flooding Debate Intensifies
His comments come amid renewed national debate over the causes of Accra’s recurring floods and who should take responsibility when disaster strikes.
Some have blamed residents who dump refuse into drains, build in unauthorised areas or ignore planning regulations.
Others, including Mr Aboagye, argue that government cannot hide behind public indiscipline because law enforcement, urban planning, sanitation management and disaster preparedness are state responsibilities.
He insisted that political leadership must ensure that systems work, offenders are punished and public infrastructure is maintained before the rainy season.
Call for Accountability
Mr Aboagye’s remarks add to growing pressure on the government to provide a more permanent solution to flooding in Accra and other parts of the country.
He said citizens who lost relatives, homes, businesses and personal belongings deserve answers and practical action, not excuses.
According to him, the government must accept responsibility, strengthen enforcement, improve drainage systems and ensure that emergency-response agencies are properly prepared.
The Bawumia campaign communications director maintained that leadership is not only about identifying problems but taking responsibility for solving them.
For him, the latest floods should serve as another reminder that Ghana needs stronger planning, firm enforcement and accountable governance to protect lives and property.
Source: Kwabena Danso-Dapaah
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