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The Works and Housing minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye has said the Ghanaian government is collaborating with the World Bank to invest over $200million to tackle flooding at the Odaw drainage basin.
According to the minister, the investment will address solid waste and flood risk challenges in the Odaw drainage basin and the project will also see the development and implementation of a Flood Early Warning System to enhance community safety and resilience.
Speaking in parliament today, Mr. Asenso-Boakye stated that this is among the plans by the government to ensure flood risk is minimised in the country.
Also, the minister disclosed since assuming office in January, 2017 – the Akufo-Addo-led government has invested GH₵450 million in the National Flood Control and Priority Drainage Programme compared to the GH₵88 million invested by the previous government between 2011 and 2016.
He believes “the level of commitment to tackling the problem which has resulted in a reduction of flooding incidents in the past few years is unprecedented and commendable.”[ads3]
On the causes of flood in the country, Mr. Asenso-Boakye said that, “the causes of flooding in the country are multi-faceted. They include inefficient drains, undersized culverts and uncontrolled development in flood plains, wetlands and waterways. Additionally, indiscriminate dumping of solid waste into our drains by households contribute significantly to urban flooding. Across the country, we see new developments and buildings springing up in waterways and flood plains (buffer zones) blocking the flow of storm water and worsening the risk of flooding.”
Mr. Asenso-Boakye emphasized that the World Bank in its report in May, 2019 estimated that $3.2 billion (4.45% of GDP) worth of economic assets are at risk of flooding in the Greater Accra Region alone and this figure is expected to quadruple by 2050 without urgent action.[ads4]
He continued that, ” several areas in Kumasi experienced severe and devastating flooding in the recent heavy downpour – and it affected commercial areas such as the new Kejetia market, Central market, Asafo market and Bantama High Street with several shops and homes experienced flooding and goods worth millions of Ghana Cedis were destroyed”
He concluded that similar reports have been received from Koforidua and Takoradi and indeed other parts of the country – and his visit to the affected areas in Kumasi on Monday 28 June 2021, unraveled the increasing risk of flooding associated with climate change is clear and as a nation need to take bold steps to tackle this challenge holistically.
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