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Today is exactly one week, after the worst flood-cum-fire disaster in the nation’s history occurred, claiming the lives of about 200 people in the nation’s capital.

In fact, the disaster was and still is so severe that, it left in its trails the loss of lives and massive destruction of property.

The narrative out there is that we have failed as a nation to reduce to the barest minimum the massive floods that annually inundate the capital.

Truth is combating flooding is not a rocket science; we have engineers and hydrologists who have made good suggestions over the years, but which have fallen on deaf ears.

Last week’s disaster could simply have been avoided, had successive governments been a little proactive in strategizing to combat the annual ritual.

Even though the disaster cannot be blamed on any individual or government, be it past or present, it is however a collective failure and an indictment on the whole nation.

It is true that successive governments have attempted to do their bit to address this perennial challenge, thwarted their efforts.

Instead of us protecting waterways and wetlands, while focusing on construction of more sub-surface drains across the city, we have gotten asleep, and allowed some unscrupulous people to sell all the waterways to developers with or without the connivance of city authorities.

Ironically, we have rather crossed our fingers waiting with bated breath for disaster to strike and, indeed, it occurred with untold consequences.

The confusion surrounding the Conti project agreement even makes matters worse.

The $663,299,497 agreement between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Conti Group, known as the Accra Sanitation, Sewerage and Storm-Water Drainage Project, was supposed to address the drainage and sewerage system in Accra for good.

The contract, which was a technological masterpiece, could have ensured that nine major drainage basins in the Accra metropolis, namely the Odaw, LAFA, Chemu, Kpeshie, Osu Klottey, Morkwei, La Songhor and Korle lagoon, were to receive major uplift.

But for some strange reasons the contract could not see the light of day since it was signed in 2013.

Sad as it may be, the worst tragedy in the nation’s history has already happened and there is no need crying over spilt milk.

What The Enquirer has observed is that, officialdom has paid lip service in addressing this perennial flood situation for far too long, and this time we were not lucky to have escaped the force of the flood waters which culminated in the massive disaster.

The last time a major disaster happened in the country was in May 9, 2001 when a football match between Accra hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko resulted in the death of about 126 soccer fans. Incidentally, it was also on a wet Wednesday after a downpour.

The nation’s response to the May 9 disaster saw the facelift of the Accra stadium to an international level.

At least our response to the June 3 disaster, this time, will determine whether or not, we are ready to avert similar or worst occurrences moving forward.

We need a permanent solution and this is the time for us to address the challenge once and for all!