Ghana’s ongoing flood challenges stem as much from human actions and lax regulation as they do from environmental and infrastructural shortcomings, according to a new wave of young climate advocates. They argue that unchecked waste disposal and inadequate enforcement of sanitation laws have entrenched damaging behaviors that worsen flood impacts, even during minor rainfall.
During the debut edition of Loud and Green XSpaces on JoyNews X, participants highlighted how plastic waste and other refuse routinely clog drainage systems and alter water flow, leading to floods in residential and commercial areas. Climate communicator Maxwell Aklorbortu recounted witnessing a military officer casually discard a plastic bottle from a moving vehicle, an act he described as emblematic of a wider societal disregard for environmental hygiene. Aklorbortu noted that obstructing natural waterways forces water to carve new paths, often flooding homes and businesses.
Youth climate reporter Lady Diana Banyeh described her firsthand experience of floodwaters engulfing parts of Madina Zongo Junction. She emphasized that even as floodwaters rose, some traders continued to throw waste into nearby drains, aggravating the problem and putting residents at risk. The blurring line between roads and gutters during flooding, she said, closed shops and flooded homes, underscoring the severity of the recurring crisis.
Another voice, climate activist Gafaru Aminu, called attention to the role leadership and infrastructure play in shaping public conduct. He argued that poor waste disposal habits often arise from systemic failures, including the absence of accessible waste management facilities and insufficient institutional backing. Aminu stressed that effective leadership is crucial to establishing structures that support environmentally responsible behavior across communities.
The discussions paved the way for the launch of the youth-led Loud and Green initiative, aimed at elevating young climate voices and steering public discourse toward practical solutions. Advocates agreed that tackling Ghana’s cycle of “small rains, big floods” requires simultaneously addressing behavioral change and enforcement of existing environmental laws.