Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has urged the government to move beyond short-term clean-up campaigns and introduce a comprehensive national sanitation policy to tackle Ghana’s recurring flooding problems.

Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, July 14, Afenyo-Markin said the two-day nationwide clean-up exercise announced by government is a useful emergency response but falls short of addressing the root causes of flooding, particularly after the widespread destruction caused by the June 29 floods in Accra and other parts of the country.

He stressed that while post-flood clean-up activities are necessary to restore affected communities, lasting solutions require a coordinated strategy focused on sanitation, proper drainage systems and flood prevention.

The Effutu MP reminded the House that during earlier discussions on the flood disaster, the Interior Minister assured Parliament that government would develop a comprehensive plan to address the persistent flooding challenge.

According to Afenyo-Markin, Ghana can no longer rely on periodic clean-up exercises if it is serious about preventing future disasters.

He maintained that the country needs a well-structured national sanitation policy backed by decisive implementation, arguing that only such a long-term approach can effectively reduce the devastating impact of floods.