{
  "id": 1779268,
  "title": "Kingsley Agyemang calls for legally protected fund to tackle Africa’s flood risk",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/kingsley-agyemang-calls-for-legally-protected-fund-to-tackle-africas",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T19:16:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/kingsley-agyemang-calls-for-legally-protected-fund-to-tackle-africas-flood-risk/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Kingsley Agyemang, a Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has urged African governments to create legally protected disaster risk management funds to combat the growing issue of floods on the continent. Speaking to BBC’s Focus on Africa, the insurance and risk management expert argued that countries must shift from treating floods as emergencies and instead invest consistently in prevention and resilience. Though many African nations have early warning systems, Dr Agyemang explained that governments lack the necessary financing and coordination to respond effectively to warnings. He proposed an integrated financing model that would draw resources from various domestic sources, including government budgets, mineral revenues, corporate taxes, levies, and assistance from development partners. The MP, who chairs Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, emphasized that protecting lives and property should be a fundamental government responsibility. His call comes in the wake of devastating floods that struck parts of West Africa, particularly Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, on June 29, leaving at least 12 people dead and thousands of households affected. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of flooding in Africa, with flood risks expected to rise significantly as global temperatures rise. Dr Agyemang highlighted that current approaches are reactive and called for a more proactive, domestically funded system to tackle disasters. He cited successful risk-pooling mechanisms in the UK and the US as potential models for Africa. Dr Agyemang stressed that flood prevention must be integrated into economic planning rather than treated as an emergency expenditure. He warned that the consequences of flooding extend beyond loss of life and property, including increased risks of waterborne diseases and strain on healthcare systems. He stressed that for the proposed funds to be effective, legislation is crucial to prevent governments from diverting them. Dr Agyemang noted that while African countries possess the necessary knowledge and technology for resilience, stronger political commitment and sustainable financing are required to achieve meaningful change.",
  "summary": "The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has called on African governments to establish dedicated, legally protected disaster risk management funds to help countries prepare for and respond to increasingly severe floods. The insurance and risk management expert said African countries must move away from treating floods as emergencies that require action only after they…",
  "key_points": [
    "Dr Kingsley Agyemang calls for legally protected disaster risk management funds in Africa.",
    "Floods in West Africa kill at least 12 people and affect thousands of households.",
    "Successful risk-pooling models in UK and US proposed as Africa's flood prevention framework."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}