Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Works and Housing
The Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, says the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa 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.
Delivering a statement in Parliament yesterday on measures being taken to address problem of perennial flooding, the Minister stressed that evidence can be seen from the implementation of the comprehensive flood control and management programme that commenced between 2018 and 2020, under the National Flood Control Programmes (NFCP).
“It is the demonstration of the government’s commitment to tackling flooding. The Programme, has since seen government committed GH₵450m, making it the most substantial investment from a government funding sources to address flooding challenges in the country,” he stated.
Mr. Asenso-Boakye disclosed that the government’s commitments to tackling the menace under the Programme resulted in initiating 384 desilting projects and commencing construction of 202 drainage channels projects.
“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.
Investment impact
The Minister noted that the impact of the investments had resulted in 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.
He mentioned that other flood hot spots benefitting 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, Aboabo Drain.
The Minister also revealed that 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.
He said the project is jointly being implemented by the ministries of Works and Housing, Sanitation and Water Resources and Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development. According to him, it has already provided financial assistance to 17 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Odaw Catchment for desilting key drainage channels.
Cabinet’s declaration
Mr Asenso-Boakye further disclosed that Cabinet had declared the country’s perennial flooding that continue to affect lives, livelihood and properties as a “national security issue”, and had subsequently called on the various law enforcement agencies to play a critical role to address the challenge.
“In view of this, Cabinet has therefore constituted a committee to develop a comprehensive plan with appropriate measures to strengthen the enforcement of laws relating to lands and siting of buildings,” he stated.
He said the committee comprises of the Minister of National Security, as its Chairperson, with Ministers of Works and Housing, Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Sanitation and Lands and Natural Resources as the other members.
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