Early Flood Warning System procured to save lives, properties

Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, has presented state-of-the-art equipment for Accra Flood Early Warning System to key institutions in a stride toward enhancing flood preparedness and safeguarding the lives and properties of residents in flood-prone areas.

The beneficiary institutions, namely the Ghana Hydrological Authority, Ghana Meteorological Agency, and the Water Resources Commission, will play crucial roles in establishing the Accra Flood Early Warning System (FEWS).

The Accra Accra Flood Early Warning System aims to provide advanced notification of impending floods, enabling residents in vulnerable communities to take proactive measures ahead of potential flooding.

Mr Asenso-Boakye highlighted the importance of this initiative in mitigating the devastating impact of floods on residents in the Greater Accra Region.

The state-of-the-art equipment, forming the building blocks of the Accra Flood Early Warning System, will collect and transmit data on crucial parameters such as rainfall intensity, runoff levels in primary drains, and other meteorological factors.

This data will be transmitted to a central platform, where advanced programming and modeling will generate nowcasts and forecasts, estimating the probability of flooding in specific communities.

Residents in at-risk communities will receive advanced alerts, providing them with crucial time to secure valuables, evacuate to safer grounds, and protect their loved ones.

Flooding killed 510 people, injured 309

Data compiled by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has revealed that flooding in Ghana killed 510 people and injured 309 others between 2015 and 2020.

1,446 flood events

During the six-year period, Ghana recorded 1,446 flood events.

54,744 houses inundated, 136,563 acres of farmlands destroyed

During the same period, 54,744 houses were inundated and 136,563 acres of farmlands destroyed.

Ghana experiences flood disasters every year, resulting in loss of lives and property.

One major flood disaster every year over the past 10 years

Despite the investments in flood protection structures, the problem of flooding persists, with the country experiencing at least one major flood disaster every year over the past 10 years, thereby resulting in the loss of lives and property.

Mr Asenso-Boakye disclosed that a service provider would be engaged to set up and operate the Flood Early Warning System platform for three years.

According to him, the service provider will also be responsible for maintaining the equipment and overall system, along with training staff from the three institutions and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to ensure the sustainable operation of the Accra Flood Early Warning System.

The Accra Accra Flood Early Warning System is part of a comprehensive flood mitigation approach adopted by the government, complementing other structural measures such as dredging the Odaw, reconstructing bridges and drainage systems, and addressing poorly engineered sections in critical areas.

As the Accra Flood Early Warning System takes shape, it signifies a major step toward a safer and more resilient Greater Accra Region in the face of potential flooding.