Kumasi: Former Minister for Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development and MP for Techiman South, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, has accused the current government of failing to utilize more than US$200 million left by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to combat perennial flooding in parts of Accra. Korsah claims the funds were allocated for major drainage works and water retention facilities to mitigate flooding in the Greater Accra Region.
According to Ghana Web, Adjei-Mensah Korsah revealed that the flood mitigation program was designed to incorporate the construction of drainage systems and water-holding ponds across flood-prone communities. He alleged that the NDC government has been reluctant to utilize the funds, which were intended to manage flooding effectively.
'The NPP government left behind over US$200 million to combat perennial flooding, yet the NDC government is unwilling to utilize these funds,' he stated. The initiative was planned to cover 17 metropolitan areas within Accra but encountered delays during implementation. Korsah mentioned that the project was supposed to be executed at a faster pace, but various factors have slowed it down.
He attributed some of the delay to difficulties in accessing certain project sites, as local residents opposed the construction works. 'We held meetings, and we were informed that work had slowed because some indigenous communities were not permitting the projects to continue. Whenever we asked about the projects, we were assured they would proceed,' he explained.
Korsah expressed concerns over the current status of the flood control initiative, claiming that the project's scope might be significantly reduced. 'As it stands now, the project is still on hold. We intended to construct 18 water-holding ponds, but now the finance minister says that, if we are fortunate, only two will be constructed,' he alleged.
He urged the government to prioritize the completion of the flood mitigation projects, emphasizing their importance in addressing the recurring flooding challenges faced by many communities.