Water Resources Commission — regulatory organization that organizes educational initiatives and stakeholder engagement on water resource management and environmental protection in Ghana.
… The Water Resources Commission (WRC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have repeatedly identified uncontrolled development in wetlands as a major contributor to urban flooding across Ghana. …
… The platform is being implemented collaboratively by the Ghana Hydrological Authority, the Ghana Meteorological Agency, the NADMO and the Water Resources Commission under the Greater Accra Resilient Integrated Development (GARID) Project. …
… GARID alone spans four ministries, 17 local assemblies, the Hydrological Authority, NADMO, GMet, the Water Resources Commission and the Lands Commission, a diffusion that critics argue means responsibility belongs, in practice, to no one. …
… He further cited data from the Water Resources Commission indicating that more than 60 percent of the country’s water-bodies have been polluted by illegal mining activities. …
… Oteng Ababio noted that key institutions such as metropolitan assemblies, traditional authorities, the Forestry Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Water Resources Commission all played important roles in land management, but weak coordination among them had c …
… The session closed with the research team acknowledging the IGC’s Ghana office for funding the project, and the Minerals Commission, Water Resources Commission and community-supported mining organisations that participated in the study.
Flooding in major Ghanaian cities including Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tema, and Kasoa is driven partly by man-made factors such as violations of planning regulations, weak development control, and encroachment on wetlands and natural drainage channels. Experts argue that while climate change and unpredictable rainfall have intensified flood risks, planning authorities and regulatory agencies bear responsibility for protecting environmental assets that serve as natural flood defences.
Flooding in major Ghanaian cities including Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tema, and Kasoa is driven partly by man-made factors such as violations of planning regulations, weak development control, and encroachment on wetlands and natural drainage channels. Experts argue that while climate change and unpredictable rainfall have intensified flood risks, planning authorities and regulatory agencies bear responsibility for protecting environmental assets that serve as natural flood defences.
Groundwater Galamsey — uncontrolled, unscientific drilling of boreholes without proper hydrogeological investigation, water testing, or data submission — poses a hidden threat to Ghana's national water security, homes, schools, farms, and health, even though its damage is not immediately visible like surface illegal mining.
The Ghana Hydrological Authority says that while climate change has intensified rainfall, persistent flooding cannot be resolved through infrastructure projects alone; indiscriminate refuse disposal, illegal construction on floodplains, poor drainage maintenance, and rapid urban development worsen flooding, and sustainable solutions require active public participation.
The Flood Early Warning System for Accra (FEWS-Accra) is now generating rainfall forecasts every 10 minutes with a two-to-three-hour lead time, but officials say validation exercises including threshold testing, sensor checks, and emergency drills must be completed before full reliance on the platform for flood response.
Accra continues to experience severe flooding in the same areas—including Weija, Kasoa, Dansoman, and Lakeside—a pattern documented since at least 1960. Credible studies identify five persistent causes: the city's low-lying geography, settlements built on floodplains and drainage channels, drains clogged with plastic and sachet-water bags, outdated drainage infrastructure, and unenforced zoning and wetland-protection laws.
Newmont Ahafo North Mine held a tree-planting and clean-up exercise in Abrobaa to mark World Environment Day, reaffirming its commitment to land reclamation, water stewardship, biodiversity conservation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction as part of its climate resilience efforts.
Speakers at Ghana's Environmental Sustainability Summit 2026 warned that illegal mining and environmental degradation could undermine the country's green finance agenda and carbon market frameworks. Experts argued that businesses must prioritize environmental sustainability as core business strategy rather than charity, citing Ghana's estimated two percent annual deforestation rate.
A University of Ghana professor has called for a fundamental change in flood management strategy, arguing that existing measures such as dredging drains and partial demolitions are ineffective. He advocates for stronger institutional coordination, strict enforcement of planning regulations, wetland protection, and landscape restoration to address root environmental and governance challenges rather than symptoms.
An unauthorised refuse landfill site containing municipal, industrial, and e-waste with heavy metals was washed into Weija Lake during Wednesday's floods, posing a threat to about 80% of Accra residents who depend on the lake for drinking water supplied by Ghana Water Company Limited.
Researchers have presented findings from a study on Ghana's Community Mining Scheme, evaluating its benefits since 2019 and identifying policy and practice changes needed. The research, conducted by teams from the University of Derby and University of Mines and Technology, surveyed 500 CMS miners and interviewed regulators and miners to assess the scheme's impact and challenges.
The Ghana Meteorological Agency has proposed a new legislative framework to transform itself into the Ghana Meteorological Authority, with expanded regulatory powers to license meteorological operators, establish standards, and become the sole official source of national severe weather warnings and public safety alerts.
The Oheneba Poku Foundation has raised concerns about illegal and unsustainable mining activities (galamsey) around Lake Bosomtwe in the Ashanti region, citing vegetation destruction, soil erosion, ecosystem disturbance, and encroachment on buffer zones critical for protecting water quality and ecosystem stability. The foundation stressed that the combined effects of illegal mining, land degradation, and weak environmental enforcement pose a significant risk to the sustainability of Ghana's only natural lake.
The Ghana Water Justice Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, has issued policy recommendations to transform water access and governance, calling on government and the Ghana Water Company to halt disconnections for households unable to pay and to prioritise affordable, universal access to water as a fundamental human right.
The Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action held a high-level gathering in Accra with diplomats, government officials, academics, and development partners to advance nature-based climate solutions across the continent. The Global Lead emphasized that despite Africa's minimal contribution to global emissions, it faces severe climate impacts and possesses rich natural assets including forests and wetlands that should anchor the continent's climate strategy.
The Water Resources Commission organized an inter-school quiz competition in Abuakwa South Municipality to commemorate World Water Day 2026, testing pupils' knowledge on water resource management, sanitation, environmental protection, and the dangers of illegal mining. The initiative aims to promote water conservation and environmental stewardship among young people.
A major stakeholder consultation held at Osino-Saman in Fanteakwa South District, organised under the EU-supported BRACE programme in collaboration with the Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, brought together community members, traditional authorities, environmental advocates, and state regulatory agencies to address ecological threats to the Atewa enclave, particularly from illegal mining and unsustainable extractive activities.
Fish farmers in Ghana have been urged to adopt stronger biosecurity measures and vaccination practices as disease outbreaks such as Streptococcus infections and Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus continue to affect aquaculture productivity. A technical training workshop organized by the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana, Virbac, and the Blue Food Innovation Hub stressed that strict biosecurity practices are the most effective way to reduce disease spread and farm losses.