As part of efforts to deal with perennial flooding in the capital and other flood-prone areas of the country, the government has constructed 19 km of drains, and further excavated, re-channeled and maintained approximately 1000km. This was done under the government’s Drainage and Flood Management Programme.
the Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, who disclosed this at a press conference yesterday, said this forms part of other interventions by government to heighten the country’s resilience to flooding and mitigate flood risk in the country.
Providing details on the construction so far, the Bantama MP said the 19 km of drains include the Kwesimintim drainage project, Haatso drainage project, Madina Redco and Culvert drainage project, Adenta drainage project, the Agbogba Culvert project, among others. He added that the government had invested GHS 450 million in the last four years to mitigate the incidence of flood in the country.
The Ghana Meteorological Agency forecast for June, July and August has predicted some moderate to heavy thunderstorms, particularly for the middle to northern sectors of the country.
According to Mr Asenso-Boakye, his outfit is programmed to implement the 2021 National Flood Control Programme that will help curb flooding and provide a quick response to flooding in the country.
Housing project
Meanwhile, the Minister has said the government is also committed to completing stalled housing projects in the country.
He said the government is pursuing all available options for the completion of all stalled housing projects, including the Saglemi housing project. He however stressed that the government would not renege on its duty to ensure that Ghanaians obtain value-for-money.
It is estimated that 60 per cent of Ghana’s population need some form of government assistance to support access housing while 35per cent will not be able to access housing even with government support.
The Minister said the government is putting in place measures to address the country’s housing deficit, adding that plans are far advanced towards the establishment of the Ghana Housing Authority. The Authority will help complement the activities of the National Housing and Mortgage Fund in addressing the challenges of the housing market in the country.
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