Gov’t has spent GH¢450M so far in addressing flooding – Asenso-Boakye
Throughout the past five years, the government has reportedly spent GHC 450 million tackling floods in the country.
Francis Asenso-Boakye, minister for works and housing, announced this while touring flood-prone regions in Accra following Saturday night’s rainfall.
Greater Accra Region in particular has experienced flooding whenever it rains throughout the years.
Poor drainage systems and other human actions, such as the discharge of rubbish into drains, are frequently cited as causes.
According to Asenso-Boakye, however, the central government is addressing the issue and demands that other parties, including local authorities and individuals, do the same.
While reassuring that the persistent flooding issue is being addressed, he stated that local authorities must have the courage to take serious action against buildings constructed in unlawful locations.
“What we’ve done is provide corrective measures to lessen the effects of the massive rushing water. In order to enhance the capacity of the drains to carry more stormwater, the government has invested GH450 million in drain expansion over the past five years, including deep excavation and concrete lining. The indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in our drains and the haphazard construction of our neighbourhoods are two causes of floods that must be addressed. These structures in unauthorized locations must be dismantled,” he said.
Mr. Asenso-Boakye also publicly stated that the Greater Accra Resilience Integrated Development (GARID) Project, for which the government has obtained a $200 million budget, will assist in resolving the flooding issue.
According to him, the monies will assist the government with widening and deepening storm drains in the nation’s capital.
“The government has received $200 million in funds to execute measures in the Odaw basin… We are preparing to begin work on the project, which is an interdepartmental endeavor. I am convinced that after the project is completed, the issue of flooding in the Odaw basin would be resolved.
