People living in flood-prone communities in the Greater Accra Region will soon have the benefit of advance notice of flooding to enable them take steps to protect their lives and properties.
The design of the flood early warning system has been completed and processes for the engagement of a service provider will be finalised for deployment of the system in the Greater Accra Region.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, made this known at a press briefing in Accra, ahead of the incoming rainy season.
He indicated that the deployment of the system was part of the government’s comprehensive programme to tackle flooding in vulnerable communities under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project.
“Per the working of the system, an installed radar will receive information on incoming rains from the Ghana Meteorological Authority and it will be able to predict where there will be flooding. This signal will be transmitted to a centre where the information will be coordinated and disseminated through traditional and social media to communities at risk of floods.”
Mr. Asenso-Boakye said the GARID project is also carrying out participatory community upgrading works in Nima, Alogboshie and Akweteyman to address localised flooding in the selected communities.
On other flood control interventions being implemented by the Project, the Honourable Minister said performance-based dredging of the Odaw River and drainage improvement works at Achimota, Nima and Kaneshie, will soon commence following the completion of all the needed resettlement issues and procurement processes.
“Other important interventions include the construction of retention ponds at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission area to hold large volumes of water which would have otherwise flowed towards the city centre to cause flooding. Our technical team is working with the consultant to finalise that design,” he added.
Notwithstanding the gains made in flood control, Mr. Asenso-Boakye said, human activities undermined the impact of government’s investment to mitigate flood risks and cautioned against inappropriate ways of disposing of solid waste in drainage channels as the country braced itself for the onset of the rainy season.
“We need the citizenry to support the government’s efforts by respecting rules and regulations governing settlement planning and avoid development on water courses and drainage buffers,” the minister added.
He said the safety of communities, especially those in flood-prone areas, should be a shared responsibility.