Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has asserted that the government of President Akufo-Addo has committed more funds to tackling the perennial challenge of flooding and building resilience of communities than any other government in the country’s history.
The Minister said this is evident in the implementation of the comprehensive flood control and management programme that commenced between 2018 and 2020 under the National Flood Control Programmes (NFCP).
The Programme, has since seen the government committed GHC 450 million, making it the most substantial investment from a government to address flooding challenges in the country.
In a statement to Parliament on Thursday on measures being undertaken by the sector Ministry to address the perennial flooding, Asenso-Boakye stated that the government’s commitments to tackling the menace under the programme resulted in initiating 384 desilting projects and the commencement of the construction of 202 drainage channels.
“To date, 370 desilting projects, representing 96% have been completed and 84 drainage channel construction projects representing 42% have been completed, with the remaining 118 at various stages of completion”the Minister disclosed.
The impact of the investments, the sector Minister noted has been the mitigation of flood hazards in beneficiary communities such as Kuntunse Satellite, Achimota Mile 7, Katamanso, Mamprobi, Abeka-Ayigbe Town, Labadi Olympia, Nungua (United Church Area), Haatso, Madina Firestone, Madina Mayehot, Madina Redco, Madina Oblogo, Dome Crossing, Weija GEICEL, Kasoa Iron City, Kasoa Obom, Nsuoano stream in Ngleshie Amanfrom and Ashaiman.
“Other flood hot spots that are benefiting from the 2020 Programme include Kasoa Millennium City, Adenta Sakora, Nsakyi, Ablekuma, Dawhyenya Dome Railway Crossing, New Legon, Adenta, Sango and Naapladjor Drains, Kakum River, Birim River, Leprosarium Drain, Densu River, Korkordjor River, Owabi River, Sefwi Wiaso and Aboabo Drain.”
Asenso-Boakye indicated that the increasing risk of flooding in some parts of the country is largely due to improper solid waste disposal, disregard for planning rules and regulation, and rapid urbanization compounded by the adverse effect of climate change.
This, the Minister noted, has resulted in flooding in other urban centres, such as, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Koforidua and Tamale that did not use to experience flooding.
The sector Minister also mentioned that the government, in partnership with the World Bank and under the Greater Accra Resilience and Integrated Development (GARID), is investing about $200 million towards reducing flood risks and addressing solid waste management challenges in the Odaw Drainage Basin.
The project, which is jointly being implemented by the Ministries of Works and Housing, Sanitation and Water Resources and Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development, has already provided financial assistance to 17 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Odaw Catchment area for desilting key drainage channels within their respective jurisdictions.
“The procurement process for the dredging of the Odaw drainage channel, drainage improvement works at Achimota, Nima and community upgrades in Alogboshie and Akweteyman are almost completed. Construction is expected to commence in the third quarter of this year, following the implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan,” the Minister indicated.