It is becoming increasingly clear that many people in this country have still not learnt lessons from excessive rains that can be experienced at any time in any part of the country.
This comes from the fact that after going through agonising experiences due to heavy rains, people who suffer disastrous consequences appeal for help from authorities in the country only to forget about the consequences of the disaster when it is over.
Disastrous consequences that follow after heavy rains can be avoided if appropriate steps are taken to prevent a recurrence. Flooding from rains can result in unpleasant consequences such as destruction and loss of property, discomfort to people, loss of lives and spread of diseases.
The unpleasant consequences such as these are as a result of bad behaviour on the part of many people, who care less about the need to keep their surroundings clean and behave irresponsibly when it comes to sanitation matters. The throwing of rubbish into gutters and drains results in choked gutters, which also divert floods from heavy rains to houses and installations.
Another cause of this disastrous consequence of rains is poor planning of our towns, cities and other settlements, as well as unsatisfactory and substandard engineering works. If engineers responsible for such works can rise up to the occasion and do what is right, it will go a long way to minimise the havoc that results from heavy rains.
It is quite worrying that the nation spends more time discussing the causes of havoc from rains year in year out. This means that the time for action is now or never.
Flooding of areas in different parts of the country at this time of the year, resulting from rains is a pointer to the fact that as a nation we need to sit up and ensure that the right things are done at the right time.
The Ghanaians Times is of the view that we need to focus well on this phenomenon and punish those who go against building regulations. Without this, not much can be achieved in our efforts to prevent flooding. The implication of this is that, we need to strictly enforce our rules and regulations pertaining to construction and engineering works.
In this connection, project supervisors will have to be severely punished for their irresponsible acts. Similarly, residents in areas who overlook sanitation rules and build houses in waterways must also be made to face very harsh punishments.
Until we learn to enforce environmental laws, not much can be achieved in our quest to stop flooding. The time to act is now!
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