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The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has described flood mitigation as a top national priority, assuring Ghanaians of government’s renewed commitment to addressing persistent flooding across the country.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, the Minister said flooding continues to pose a major threat to lives, property and infrastructure, particularly in urban centres. He disclosed that a Presidential Task Force on Flooding, led by the Deputy Chief of Staff, has been established to coordinate and accelerate national flood mitigation efforts.
According to him, the ministry has undertaken comprehensive assessments of major drainage systems within key hydrological basins to identify flood-prone areas and guide long-term interventions.
These efforts, he said, have informed the construction, rehabilitation and desilting of drains under the National Flood Control Programme, helping to reduce flood risks in several communities.
Hon. Adjei also highlighted ongoing drainage improvement works in parts of Accra, including Alogboshie, Akweteyman and Nima, as well as new interventions at Achimota, Kaneshie and Nima-Paloma. He noted that performance-based dredging of the Odaw Channel has removed significant volumes of sediment, improving water flow and reducing the likelihood of flooding.
As part of non-structural measures, the Minister said government has advanced the Flood Early Warning System for Accra, with installations completed for key agencies including NADMO, the Ghana Hydrological Authority and the Ghana Meteorological Authority. He added that similar flood risk assessments are being extended to the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area to develop short-, medium- and long-term solutions.
The Minister reiterated government’s resolve to invest in flood-resilient infrastructure, strengthen institutional collaboration and engage communities to sustainably address flooding and protect lives and livelihoods.
