“Proactive Policy, Not Reactive Fixes”: Engineer Calls for New Laws to Tackle Flooding Through Green Infrastructure
As Ghana continues to grapple with seasonal flooding in Accra and other urban centers, a civil engineer has proposed sweeping legislation to reduce rainwater runoff from hard surfaces, describing it as “the only sustainable long-term solution” to the crisis.
In a public statement released this week, Ing. Janis Asare Bediako argued that communities cannot dredge or build their way out of floods without first addressing the root cause: excessive runoff from buildings, roads, and pavements that overwhelm drainage systems.
“Legislating and enforcing policies that reduce rainwater runoff from hard surfaces is the only sustainable long-term solution to the persistent flooding in our communities,” Bediako wrote. “Sustainable flood control begins with proactive policy, not reactive interventions.”
The Three Pillars of the Proposal
Bediako outlined three minimum areas any new policy must cover:
1. Green Infrastructure Requirements
All new developments would be required to integrate green infrastructure. This includes rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, permeable pavements, and adequate tree planting. The goal is to absorb and slow down rainwater at the source instead of channeling it straight into drains.
2. Low Impact Development (LID) Standards
Site designs would need to preserve natural drainage patterns. Bediako called for minimizing impervious surfaces like oversized parking lots and excessively wide roads. He also emphasized protecting and restoring vegetated buffers along streams and rivers, known as riparian buffers, which naturally filter and slow runoff.
3. Stormwater and Land Development Regulations
The proposal pushes for strict erosion and sediment control during construction. It would set limits on how much of a parcel can be covered by buildings or pavement, and promote permeable construction materials.
Notably, Bediako suggested introducing *stormwater utility fees* based on the amount of impervious surface on a property. Property owners who adopt approved stormwater management practices would qualify for fee reductions, creating a financial incentive to build green.
“Reduce Runoff at the Source”
According to Bediako, effective enforcement, smarter urban planning, and collective commitment to sustainable development are critical.
“Reducing stormwater runoff at its source is the most effective way to build resilient communities and significantly reduce the flood menace over the long term,” he stated.
Why This Matters Now
Accra and other major cities have seen recurring floods that destroy property, disrupt business, and claim lives. Most interventions to date have been reactive — dredging, desilting, and emergency relief. Bediako’s framework shifts focus to prevention through design and legislation.
Urban planners say the ideas align with global best practices already adopted in cities like Singapore, Philadelphia, and Rotterdam, where green infrastructure has reduced flood peaks and improved water quality.
With climate change intensifying rainfall patterns, pressure is mounting on Ghana’s assemblies and Parliament to move from ad-hoc responses to binding standards for developers.
As Bediako puts it: “Sustainable flood control begins with proactive policy, not reactive interventions.”
