GH₵450m invested in flood mitigation programmes – Assenso Boakye

The Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Assenso Boakye, has highlighted the government’s efforts to fight perennial floods with GH₵450 million spent on mitigation mechanisms.

Mr Assenso Boakye said the money was invested in flood mitigation measures in the past four years and emphasised the government’s commitment to rolling out several interventions to increase resilience to flooding.

According to him, the money was spent on projects including drainage works and construction of culverts in Kwesimintsim, Hataso, Agbogba, Adenta, and MADINA-REDCO and sea defence walls in New Takoradi, Axim, Anomabo, Cape Coast and Elmina

He also cited the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development(GARID) Project being implemented in collaboration with the World Bank to deal with flood risk and address solid waste management challenges in the Odaw Drainage Basin.

His comments follow heavy floods in Kumasi and Accra in the past week.

A toddler was killed in a downpour at Sawaba in the Ashanti Region after hours of rain on June 22.

The two-year-old boy was travelling with his mother on a tricycle, popularly known as ‘Pragya’.

However, they got stuck and decided to continue their journey on foot, but the boy was swept away by floods.

Several areas, including Kejetia, were submerged in floods leading to the destruction of properties worth millions.

The situation was not different in Accra a few days after as commuters spent several hours in traffic at the West Hills Mall stretch of the Kasoa Highway, Haatso, UPSA and Shiashie due to rains.

Addressing the media in Accra on Sunday, June 27, Mr Assenso Boakye said the government was increasing flood control programmes across the country.

He explained that the government was pursuing funds for the issuance of the commitment certificate for the implementation process to commence.

In the same vein, he disclosed that Dredge Masters, a drainage desilting firm, would continue the drainage works in the Odaw River Basin while efforts were underway to procure a contractor for the deferred and maintenance dredging under the GARID Project.

Mr Assenso Boakye said the Ghana Meteorological Agency had predicted heavy to moderate rains with thunderstorms in June, July and August, especially in the middle and northern sectors and urged the public to take precautionary measures.

“The Ministry has made some significant progress in the medium to long-term amidst the limited funding to implement planned policies and programmes, but we need greater regard for rules and regulations governing our settlement planning and coastal development,” the Minister added.

He criticised indiscriminate dumping of refuse in open drains and building situated in waterways which have been the bane of efforts to deal with flooding over the years.

Consequently, he charged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce the planning and building regulations to prevent construction along waterways and wetlands.