By Daniel Bampoe
The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Kingsley Agyemang, has proposed the establishment of a National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) to strengthen the ability to respond to floods, fires and other emergencies, warning that the country can no longer afford to rely on reactive measures whenever disasters strike.
Dr. Kingsley Agyemang made the call as Ghana marked the 11th anniversary of the devastating June 3, 2015 twin flood and fire disaster, one of the deadliest peacetime tragedies in the nation’s history, which claimed more than 150 lives in Accra.
Ironically, the anniversary coincided with another round of severe flooding and fire outbreaks in parts of the capital following heavy rains, leaving hundreds displaced, damaging property and disrupting economic activity.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, the Abuakwa South lawmaker argued that recurring disasters have exposed major weaknesses in the emergency preparedness and financing systems, making it necessary to establish a dedicated funding mechanism that would support disaster prevention, relief operations and post-disaster recovery efforts.
According to him, flooding has become a recurring challenge in Accra and other parts of the country, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure while placing enormous financial burdens on affected families.
“Disasters in this country, whether natural or man-made, will continue to occur. In Accra’s case, flooding is often a combination of both. We cannot control the rains, but our attitudes and lifestyles continue to worsen the impact,” Dr. Agyemang stated.
The MP, who is also an insurance expert, explained that while insurance remains an important risk management tool, it cannot adequately absorb all the losses associated with disasters, particularly because many homes and properties remain uninsured despite existing legal provisions.
He therefore advocated a broader national financing strategy that would complement existing insurance systems and provide immediate resources during emergencies.
Drawing on international best practices, Dr. Agyemang proposed that the National Disaster Risk Management Fund should be financed through multiple sources, including government budgetary allocations, special levies, private-sector contributions and a dedicated percentage of petroleum revenues.
He argued that such a fund would provide the financial buffer needed to support rapid emergency interventions, reconstruction programmes and recovery efforts whenever disasters overwhelm available resources.
The lawmaker pointed to countries such as Japan, Philippines, Mexico, India and the United Kingdom as examples of nations that have developed dedicated disaster financing and risk-sharing arrangements to protect citizens and support recovery efforts in times of crisis.
“These countries experience disasters almost every year, from floods to earthquakes. They have accepted those realities and established dedicated funding mechanisms to respond. Ghana should be considering a similar approach,” he noted.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of increasing concerns about the economic cost of climate-related disasters in Ghana.
Environmental and development experts have consistently warned that floods, droughts and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and costly.
According to sustainable development and environmental governance expert, Samuel Dotse, climate-related disasters cost Ghana an estimated $200 million annually, with extreme events capable of reducing national economic output by as much as 15.23 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.
Dr. Dotse attributed much of the recurring flooding to human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of waste, encroachment on waterways and weak enforcement of planning regulations.
Building on these concerns, Dr. Agyemang stressed that financial preparedness alone would not solve the problem.
He called for a comprehensive national disaster management strategy that combines sustainable financing, preventive measures, public education and strict enforcement of environmental regulations.
He warned that unless Ghana adopts a proactive and coordinated approach to disaster risk management, the country will continue to suffer avoidable losses while merely reacting after emergencies occur.
The Abuakwa South MP further urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, metropolitan and municipal authorities, the private sector and citizens to build a more resilient nation capable of withstanding future disasters.
His proposal has added to the growing national conversation on how Ghana can better prepare for the increasing threat of floods and other climate-related emergencies, particularly in urban centres where rapid population growth and unplanned development continue to increase vulnerability.
