Francis Asenso-Boakye
Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has indicated that the government has completed 84 drainage channel projects, with the remaining 118 at various stages of completion.
The projects, he said, have mitigated flood hazards in beneficiary communities, adding that 370 desilting projects, representing 96 percent, have also been completed.
Briefing Parliament yesterday on the status of projects aimed at minimising the effects of flooding in Accra, the minister said that the government has allocated more than GH¢400 million to combat flooding under a special programme since 2018.
According to him, under this programme, 384 desilting projects and 202 channel projects were initiated.
However, the minister pointed out that human actions such as filling wetlands and lagoons and dumping solid waste in drains were considerably impeding flood mitigation measures.
“It has become more evident that human activities are severely impeding the government’s efforts to tackle flooding,” he emphasised.
Mr. Asenso-Boakye continued, “The observation includes blocking lagoons and wetlands with construction materials for development purposes, building on drainage channels and blocking the free flow of stormwater, dumping solid waste in drains thereby reducing their capacity to hold stormwater, and the gap in the enforcement of planning and building laws by the various MMDAs.”
He stated that flooding in the capital constituted a national security issue, and that his ministry was working with other appropriate agencies to remedy the problem.
“Cabinet noted the need to consider flooding in Accra as a national security issue since effective law enforcement has a role to play in resolving the issue.
“Subsequently, the Cabinet constituted a committee to develop a comprehensive plan with appropriate measures to strengthen the enforcement of laws relating to lands and siting of buildings.
“While the Committee does its work, my Ministry will continue its engagement with the National Security Ministry in seeking support for the Assemblies to enforce planning laws and building regulations,” he intimated.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House