The Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has disclosed that the government’s newly launched Flood Early Warning System will be ready ahead of the next rainy season.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony as part of the reconstruction of the Nima-Paloma drain as part of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, the minister explained that the flood early warning system will provide advanced notifications of flood-prone areas after each downpour, serving as a significant relief to residents in the capital.
“The structural interventions alone cannot completely eradicate the flooding challenges in Accra, the Ministry of Works and Housing in collaboration with the Ghana Hydro Authority, Water Resources Commission, Ghana Meteorological Agency and NADMO through the GARID Project is establishing a flood early warning system for the Greater Accra Region.”
“The early warning system will provide advanced notification of impending floods to residents in flood prone communities so they can take steps to protect lives and properties ahead of a flooding event”
He revealed that an agreement with the service provider for the technology to be used for the flood warning system has been reached, adding that necessary and relevant equipment needed to implement the program has been made available to the implementing agencies
“In December last year, the ministry donated equipment to support the establishment of the Accra Flood early warning system to the implement institutions.” he added.
Background
On Friday, 17th May, 2024, Parliament approved US$150 million from the World Bank as additional financing for the implementation of solid waste management, drainage improvements, and other flood mitigation measures under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project.
The World Bank financing will support a broad range of initiatives aimed at mitigating floods and improving solid waste management in the Odaw River Basin.
Key projects include: repair works on sections of the Odaw Basin, construction of storm drains in Kaneshie and Nima-Paloma, creation of water detention ponds, the establishment of a Flood Early Warning System in the Greater Accra Region, the construction of a waste transfer station and an engineered landfill site, among other interventions.
The implementation of these projects is expected to alleviate flooding along the Odaw River Basin by improving drainage, solid waste management, and infrastructure services in high-risk informal settlements within the basin. As a result, approximately half a million people dwelling in low-income communities around the Odaw basin are expected to benefit directly and indirectly from these projects.
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