[rev_slider alias=”HON. ASENSO-BOAKYE PROPOSES FUNDING SOURCES TO ADDRESS FLOODING”]
The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye has empathized the need for a dedicated source of funding to tackle the country’s vulnerability to 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 incidence of flooding, the sector Minister believes it is time Parliament gives a serious consideration to committing a proportion of some statutory funds to enable the Ministry 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 Government has, in the last five years, committed about GH450 million under National Flood Control Programme (NFCP), to mitigate perennial flooding especially in Accra, the recent climate change-induced flooding incidence across the world is enough a warning indication that a dedicated source of funding is now needed 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 effect of solid waste on drainage capacity as well as the Common Fund to cater for a holistic and efficient drainage system. “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 a firm belief that the country will be in position to showcase an unwavering dedication to addressing the age-long challenge in a comprehensive manner in the face of continuous global climate change.