The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has empathized with the need for a dedicated source of funding to tackle the country’s vulnerability to the incidence of flooding that is gradually becoming a national menace.
Given the scale of flooding challenges in flood-prone areas and especially in areas that were hitherto not known for flooding, the sector Minister believes it’s time Parliament gave serious consideration to committing a proportion of some statutory funds to enable the ministry to undertake more interventions to mitigate the impact of flooding in the country.
Delivering a statement in Parliament today on measures being taken by the Ministry to address flooding challenges in the country, the sector Minister indicated that though the government has, in the last five years, committed about GH450 million under the National Flood Control Programme (NFCP) to mitigate perennial flooding, the recent climate change-induced flooding incidence across the world is a warning indication that a dedicated source of funding is now imperative in ensuring that the country is resilient to the effects of climate change, now and in the future.
Asenso-Boakye cited the Road Fund, given the impact of drains on the lifespan of roads; the Sanitation Fund, in view of the effects of solid waste on drainage capacity; and the Common Fund to cater for a holistic and efficient drainage system as dedicated funding sources that can be looked at.
“The Ghana Hydrological Authority Act, 2022 (Act 1085), which was passed with support from both sides of the House, makes provision for the establishment of a Hydrological Fund for that purpose.” The Minister added
With these dedicated sources of funding, the Minister was of the firm belief that the country will be in a position to further showcase an unwavering dedication to addressing the age-long challenge in a comprehensive manner in the face of continuous global climate change.
