Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to actively seek engineering solutions to address recurring flooding situations in the country when given the nod to become the next president.
He criticized the government’s efforts in flood prevention and management plan following recent heavy rainfall in Accra and other parts of Ghana.
Mahama stressed that safeguarding the lives and property of citizens should be the main concern of any government asserting that the current government administration has fallen short in this aspect.
“Given the opportunity to lead our beloved country again, a new NDC government under my leadership will not rest until we find an engineering solution to the persistent flooding and implement an effective prevention and management plan. Our commitment to this cause is unwavering, and we are determined to bring about the change our nation desperately needs”, he assured.
In a Facebook post, Mahama expressed disappointment that despite purported significant investments in flood mitigation, many areas still face severe flooding even with minimal rainfall.
“Despite the government’s claims of substantial spending on projects like draining the Odaw and other flood prevention measures, the current situation is concerning,” Mahama lamented.
He highlighted that the government reportedly allocated $200 million for the Greater Accra Resilient Integrated Development Programme (GARID), yet the impact of this expenditure remains unclear.
Meanwhile, he added, “While the impact of that huge amount and its intervention have yet to be felt, parliament was recently recalled to approve another $150 million for the same GARID.”
Mr. Mahama said if granted the opportunity to lead the nation again, the new NDC government under his leadership will actively pursue engineering solutions to combat recurring flooding.
According to him, the NDC is committed to implementing a comprehensive prevention and management strategy to confront this urgent challenge.
Attached is the full Facebook post
The recent heavy downpours in Accra and other parts of the country have led to extensive destruction of property and, according to reports, the loss of life of a young schoolboy.
This has exposed the government’s failure to manage and prevent floods effectively and evokes deep concern about its lack of a comprehensive flood prevention and management plan. Many areas that in the past were unaffected by flooding today become inundated with the least rainfall.
Considering the huge sums of money allegedly spent by this government on draining the Odaw and other flood prevention interventions, the present situation is distressing. According to the government, $200 million was spent on the Greater Accra Resilient Integrated Development Programme (GARID). While the impact of that huge amount and its intervention have yet to be felt, parliament was recently recalled to approve another $150 million for the same GARID.
Protecting the lives and properties of our people should be a top priority for a government. The current administration has failed in this regard.
Given the opportunity to lead our beloved country again, a new NDC government under my leadership will not rest until we find an engineering solution to the persistent flooding and implement an effective prevention and management plan. Our commitment to this cause is unwavering, and we are determined to bring about the change our nation desperately needs.
This will include investing in sustainable drainage systems, clearing structures in waterways, proper waste management, and proactive measures to mitigate the impact of heavy rains. We are committed to bringing about the change that our nation needs.
We cannot afford to continue risking the lives and livelihoods of our people. It is time for real change and real solutions. Let us, as Ghanaians, as a community, unite and work together to build a safer and more resilient Ghana.
Your voice and action are not just important; they are crucial in this endeavour. Together, we can make a difference.
Your voice and action are crucial in this endeavour as we work towards building the Ghana we want together.
#Mahama4Change2024
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