The Ghana Institute of Geoscientists (GhIG) has launched a national initiative aimed at strengthening flood prevention and disaster resilience through scientific research, risk mapping and evidence-based planning.
The “Geoscience for a Safer Ghana” initiative comes in response to the recent floods and landslides that claimed lives, displaced thousands of people and destroyed homes, businesses and public infrastructure across the country.
In a statement signed by the Institute’s General Secretary, Mr. Cluadius Mensah, GhIG expressed sympathy to families affected by the disasters and commended emergency responders for their efforts.
The Institute stressed that while emergency relief remains essential, Ghana must adopt long-term, science-driven strategies to reduce the growing economic and social costs of recurring floods and landslides.
As part of its immediate recommendations, GhIG urged government to undertake rapid geohazard mapping of the worst-hit districts using satellite imagery and remote sensing technology to identify high-risk areas and guide emergency resettlement and reconstruction efforts.
It also called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to suspend the issuance of development permits in known flood-prone areas and geologically unstable locations until proper geoscientific assessments are completed.
The Institute further recommended that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) integrate geoscientists into its field assessment teams to improve damage assessments and support evidence-based recovery planning.
According to GhIG, these measures would help shift Ghana’s disaster response from emergency reaction to proactive risk management while laying the foundation for longer-term reforms, including the development of a National Geological Hazard and Flood Risk Atlas.
Throughout July, the Institute will roll out a series of public education and research activities under the initiative to improve understanding of the scientific causes of floods and landslides.
These include expert articles in national newspapers explaining the role of hydrology, geology and soil science in flood prevention, field investigations into recent landslide sites, and a public webinar to discuss practical, data-driven solutions for reducing disaster risks.
GhIG said its objective is to contribute scientific expertise to national policy discussions and encourage greater integration of geoscience into urban planning, infrastructure development and climate resilience strategies.
The Institute noted that better land-use planning, improved hazard mapping and stronger collaboration between scientists, policymakers and local authorities would help reduce future disaster losses while protecting lives, property and economic activity.
GhIG invited government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, the media and the public to participate in the initiative as Ghana works towards building more resilient communities.
