Gov't Tackles Floods Head-On With Huge Investment 

The Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Francis Asenso Boakye says the government has set out flood prevention and disaster risk reduction plans in the hope of avoiding a repeat of the deadly flood that hit the country in recent time.

He disclosed this at a press conference held in Accra at the Ministry of Information on Sunday, June 27, 2021.

The press conference was the minister’s first public address that touched on issues concerning the housing sector after his appointment and approval by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Parliament respectively.

The minister’s press briefing held at the Ministry of Information is a regular exercise organised by the ministry to offer ministers of state the opportunity to bring the Ghanaian public up to speed with developments in their sectors.

Mr Asenso Boakye stated that the government has intensified efforts to expand and modernise the country’s drainage system.

Additional, he said the government for the past four years has invested over GH¢450 million to cover relief and humanitarian operations, repair of damaged public infrastructure, and desilting and clearing of waterways.

According to him, a total of 19km of drains constructed and approximately 1,000 km areas have been excavated, rechanneled and maintained across the country to reduce flooding.

He revealed that government has programmed to implement the 2021 National Flood Control Programme to improve settlement resilience to flooding.

Furthermore, Mr Asenso Boakye addressed the government was collaborating with the World Bank to implement the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) to address solid waste management challenges in the Odaw Drainage Basin.

A flood early warning system according to the Minister was being developed to enhance the flood resilience of communities within the Odaw River Basin and beyond.

According to him, cabinet approval has been given for the establishment of a Ghana Hydrological Authority whose mandate will, among other things, include the development of a comprehensive drainage master plan to mitigate the effects of flooding and the protection of our coastlines.

He mentioned that the government was executing various coastal protection works which included the construction of armour revetment with beach stabilisation and later backfilling, construction of armour rock grounds and construction of breakwater structures to protect lives and properties while safeguarding the livelihood of people living along the coast

Mr Boakye made known that government has resolved to complete all existing and stalled projects within the short term while implementing other with medium to long term strategies that will ultimately increase access to adequate, safe, secure and affordable housing options for the low to middle-income groups in the country.

"Government has implemented several interventions to increase the country's resilience to flooding,” he said, adding that the investments over the last four years amounted to GH¢450 million.

Also, he mentioned that a total of 4,500 acres of land has been earmarked for affordable housing construction at Amasaman, Armrahia, Afienya all in the Greater Accra Region and Dedesua in the Ashanti Region and that government was taking the necessary steps towards the establishment of the Ghana Housing Authority to lead the supply side of the housing market by planning, developing and managing housing development in the country.

In this regard, the minister urged Ghanaians, especially those residents in flood-prone areas, to observe these warnings and safety tips to minimise casualties in event of future flooding.

The recent floods in Kumasi metropolis left hundreds trapped in traffic chaos, and also destroyed buildings and washed away cars.

 Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra Regional Correspondent