Solving perennial flooding in flood-prone areas in Ghana requires a concerted effort of all citizens, the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye has said.
He said successive governments did their part to solve the problem but it persists, stating that the current government has also instituted various measures to stop flooding, however, much is required from the citizens — attitudinal change.
Mr. Asenso-Boakye, who was touring some ongoing drainage projects in flood-prone areas in Accra, disclosed that for the past four years the government has spent about GH₡230 million to prevent flooding in the country and asked the general public to consolidate this investment by adopting attitudes that would help government’s efforts.
He said some unpatriotic citizens dump waste into storm drains which block the free flow of water when it rains, a situation that causes flooding in some parts of the country.
“As a development planner, I understand and see development as a collective and shared responsibility. Many people continue to dump solid wastes into drainage which block the free flow of water causing major flood at some parts of Accra, Tema and across the country,” he added.
He urged Ghanaians to be responsible and desist from activities that could lead to the repetition of the unfortunate twin flood and fire disasters, which claimed many lives and destroyed properties on June 3, 2015, in Accra.
He called on the District Assemblies and the Town and Country Planning Departments to strictly enforce building codes to stop people from building on waterways.
Some of the ongoing drainage projects inspected were Santa Maria, Mallam, Apenkwa and the Accra Sanitary, Sewerage, Stormwater Drainage Alleviation Project (AS3DAP), which included the upper and lower Korle-lagoon, Kwame Nkrumah Circle and Caprice (Odaw -Onyasia Confluence).
Juliet Etefe & Esther Atibo Atubiga ISD
