A Lecturer at the College of Architecture and Planning at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Seth Opuni Asiamah has attributed Wednesday’s floods in Accra to the neglect of duty by the Town and Country Planning Department and the Metropolitan Assembly. Long periods of rainfall in the early hours of Wednesday brought Accra to a virtual halt as houses and other properties were destroyed with 9 persons reportedly losing their lives as a result of the flooding. Speaking on Adom TV’s BADWAM program on Multi TV, Prof. Opuni Asiamah said “I blame the Town Planning Council for not enforcing the laws. Every Assembly has got by-laws that give them the authority to stop any illegal construction, especially on waterways. But they are not enforcing the laws. Sometimes I pity the A.M.A boss, Alfred Vanderpuije because he seems to be doing the job others in his sector are expected to do”. He argued that criticisms from sections of the public that the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) had neglected flood victims in the past were unfounded explaining that “NADMO should not be blamed for the irresponsible behaviour of Ghanaians who have decided to build on waterways. It is unfortunate that we continue to do the wrong things and blame government and other authorities for it”. Prof. Opuni Asiamah warned that unless the erection of structures in waterways is halted the flooding situation in Accra will only get worse. He also cautioned the public against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse as it is one of the factors worsening the flood situation in the capital. The Architecture and Planning lecturer thus called on stakeholders to sit up and salvage the situation before it degenerates. The former Head of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly who is now the Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Maxwell Kofi Jumah who was also on show, blamed the flood situation on the high cost of land in Accra. According to him, the cost involved in purchasing a land in the capital city is forcing migrants to the city to erect illegal structures, especially on waterways. A local government expert and facility manager, Ing. Issaka Amon Kotei described Wednesday’s torrential rains as a normal natural disaster. Speaking via telephone on the show, Ing. Amon Kotei disclosed that government was putting in place measures to create more drains to soak the flood waters. Meanwhile, the Director in charge of NADMO for the Greater Accra region, Evans Anakwa, who spoke via telephone on the show, gave the assurance that government was putting measures in place to compensate victims of the flood as well as rectify the situation.