Every year, the rains come. Every year, homes are flooded. Every year, lives are lost. And every year, Ghanaians ask the same question: How did we get here again?
As government prepares to remove buildings blocking waterways and clear choked drains, another debate has emerged. This one is not about floods. It is about journalism.
A Facebook post that has gained attention online claimed that President John Dramani Mahama had tasked the Ghana Armed Forces Engineers with clearing drains and demolishing structures built on waterways to reduce flooding. The post then singled out TV3 Ghana, Metro TV Ghana and JoyNews, accusing them of using interviews with affected homeowners to win public sympathy against demolition exercises.
It went further by calling on security personnel to destroy journalists’ cameras and assault reporters who cover the exercise.
The comments that followed revealed a divided public.
Some agreed that media coverage sometimes focuses too much on the pain of homeowners while giving less attention to the danger illegal buildings pose to entire communities. Others strongly rejected the call for violence, arguing that journalists have every right to report what is happening.
One commenter wrote, “Journalists are only doing their work. If you disagree with their reporting, respond with facts, not violence.” Another added, “People should stop building on waterways. But attacking reporters will not stop floods.”
The discussion comes at a time when government is stepping up action against illegal structures after the recent deadly floods. Authorities have announced plans to clear drains and remove buildings obstructing waterways as part of efforts to reduce future disasters.
There is no doubt that demolition will bring heartbreak. Some families will lose homes they spent years building. Their stories deserve to be told.
But that should not be the end of the story.
Responsible journalism is not only about pointing cameras at crying homeowners. It is about asking the questions that could stop the next flood before it happens.
Who approved these buildings? Were planning laws ignored? Did local authorities fail to enforce regulations? Why are drains left choked until disaster strikes? What punishment awaits developers and officials who break the rules? What support will affected families receive? And how will government ensure that waterways remain free after the demolitions?
These questions serve the public interest. They hold everyone accountable—not just government, but developers, assemblies and citizens.
The media should continue telling human stories because they matter. Compassion is part of journalism. But compassion should be matched with accountability. Reporting should help people understand not only who is suffering today, but also why the problem has persisted for decades.
Ghana cannot arrest its way out of flooding. Neither can it demolish its way out. Lasting change will come when citizens obey planning laws, authorities enforce them without fear or favour, and journalists keep asking the difficult questions that lead to real solutions.
That is the journalism Ghana needs. Not journalism that fuels division, and certainly not calls for violence against those whose job is to keep the public informed.