Project to mitigate flooding, solid waste management in Accra underway
The government is collaborating with the World Bank to implement the Greater Accra resilient and integrated development (GARID) project to mitigate flood risk and also address solid waste management challenges in the Odaw drainage basin in the metropolis.
Additionally, an early warning system for flood is being developed to enhance flood resilience in communities within the Odaw basin and beyond.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, who made this known at a media briefing at the Ministry of Information in Accra yesterday, said while efforts were underway to procure a contractor for the deferred and maintenance dredging activities under the GARID project, Dredge Masters, contractors, would continue with its dredging activities to make room for storm water and also mitigate flood risk in the Odaw basin this rainy season.
“Our priority drains programme will be targeting other river basins across the country,” he added.
Drainage works
Mr Asenso-Boakye said 19 kilometres of drains had been constructed in the last four years through various government interventions.
Also, about 1,000km of drains had been excavated, rechannelled and maintained across the country towards reducing the perennial devastating flooding situation.
According to the minister, the project, which cost a total of GH¢450 million, was the most significant investment in the sector by any government in the country.
The Ghana Meteorological Agency’s forecast for June, July and August this year indicates that there will be some moderate to heavy thunderstorms, particularly in the middle to the northern sector of the country.
Mr Asenso-Boakye further said the ministry had initiated processes for the implementation of the 2021-2022 national flood control programme in all 16 regions of the country to improve their resilience to flooding, save lives and livelihoods and also secure properties.
He said it had also engaged the Ministry of Finance for the issuance of commencement certificates for the implementation process to begin.
Sea defence wall
On the protection of vulnerable coastal zones being devastated by rising sea levels, Mr Asenso-Boakye said the government had put in place measures, ranging from the construction of armour rock revetment with lateritic backfilling to the construction of armour rock groynes and breakwater structures for beach stabilisation.
He mentioned some of the works as the two-kilometre Dansoman emergency sea defence project, which is 90 per cent complete; the five-kilometre Axim coastal protection project, which is 95 per cent complete, and the three-kilometre Komenda coastal protection project, which is 80 per cent complete.
The rest are the two-kilometre Amanful Kumah coastal protection project, about 75 per cent complete; the five-kilometre Anomabu coastal protection project, 60 per cent complete, and the five-kilometre Cape Coast coastal protection project, 60 per cent complete.
Work was also ongoing on coastal protection projects at Dixcove, Aboadze and Ningo-Prampram, he added.
Investigation
About work on the Seglemi affordable housing project at Pampram in the Greater Accra Region, Mr Asenso-Boakye said the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service had completed investigations into the project and forwarded same to the Attorney-General’s Office.
He expressed the government’s resolve to complete all existing and stalled projects within a short time and implement medium-to-long-term strategies to increase access to safe, secure and affordable housing options for-low-to-middle-income groups.
He said the ministry had also commenced discussions with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission to secure some government acquired lands for a national affordable housing programme.
As a first step, he said, 4,500 acres of land had been earmarked for affordable housing construction at Amasaman, Amrahia and Afienya, all in the Greater Accra Region, and Dedesua in the Ashanti Region.