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The Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for an inter-ministerial committee or taskforce with clear terms of reference to be set up to tackle the problem of perennial flooding.

According to the TUC, it had become apparent that no single ministry or assembly could provide a lasting solution to the annual disaste. The TUC said this in a letter signed by its acting General Secretary, Dr Yaw Baah, and addressed to President John Dramani Mahama.

It said although the nation could not prevent the rainstorms that had been causing the floods, the country could prevent the perennial flooding and the needless deaths of innocent people.

“We suggest that you set up an inter-ministerial committee or taskforce with clear terms of reference and mandate, as well as the necessary financial, technical and logistical support to prevent another flooding in Accra and other parts of the country.

“We do not know when and where nature will strike next. That is why the scope of work of the proposed committee should be extended to all parts of the country,” the TUC said.

It said there were many Ghanaians who had the skills and the expertise to help such a committee or taskforce to achieve its objectives.

Flood prevention
The letter said if there were no laws that criminalised actions and inaction that caused flooding, including, but not limited to, the allocation of watercourses for the construction of houses, petrol stations and other such buildings, then it was time to make such laws.

It said if such laws existed, then it was time to enforce them to the letter in a civilised manner, instead of indiscriminately demolishing people’s houses and other structures.

“We believe that these and other measures could help avert another tragedy,” the letter said.
It pleaded with the President to ensure that no more deaths resulted from floods, saying, “If the only legacy you can bequeath to us is flood-free Ghana, we will appreciate it and we will remember you forever.”

The letter pledged that the TUC would lead workers to support all initiatives that would provide a lasting solution to the recurrent problem.