Ghanatodayonline.com News, Politics, Health, Education & More
Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Works and Housing, has acknowledged the necessity for a specific source of money to address the nation’s vulnerability to floods, which is progressively turning into a major problem.
The sector minister believes it is time for Parliament to give some serious thought to allocating a portion of some statutory funds to enable the Ministry to carry out more interventions to lessen the impact of flooding in the nation given the scope of flooding challenges in flood-prone areas and particularly in areas that were previously not known for flooding.
Speaking in Parliament today about the Ministry’s efforts to address the nation’s flooding issues, the sector minister noted that while the government has committed roughly GH450 million over the past five years to the National Flood Control Program (NFCP) to reduce perennial flooding, the recent occurrence of flooding caused by climate change around the world is a warning sign that a dedicated source of funding is now vital for making sure the nation is robust to climate change’s effects both 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 effects of solid waste on drainage capacity as well as the Common Fund to cater for a holistic and efficient drainage system as of the 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.
The Minister was adamant that with these committed sources of money, the nation will be in a position to further demonstrate an unflinching commitment to solving the long-standing crisis in a comprehensive way in the face of ongoing global climate change.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com/Nana Kwaku Boffah
