Jul 12, 2024
The Ghana Hydrological Authority (HYDRO) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve flood control by addressing hydrological challenges in Ghana.
At the signing ceremony, the CEO of the Ghana Hydrological Authority, Dr John Kissi, highlighted the importance of this collaboration for the nation’s efforts to manage water resources and mitigate the impact of flooding and drought.
“Today marks the beginning of a significant and transformative partnership,” Dr Kissi announced. “This MoU symbolizes our shared commitment to enhancing hydrological services in Ghana through collaborative efforts and mutual expertise.”
The partnership will focus on several key areas to bolster Ghana’s hydrological capabilities:
- Catchment Monitoring and Observation Systems: HYDRO and UKCEH will jointly develop and enhance systems for monitoring and observing catchment areas. This aims to improve data collection and analysis, providing a more accurate understanding of water resources and hydrological patterns.
- Flood and Drought Modelling: The collaboration will leverage advanced modelling techniques to predict and manage the impact of floods and droughts. By enhancing preparedness and risk reduction strategies, the partnership aims to mitigate the devastating effects of these natural disasters on communities across Ghana.
- Climate Resilience and Adaptation: The MoU includes a focus on strategies to increase climate resilience and adaptation. This initiative will help Ghana better cope with the effect of climate change, ensuring sustainable water resource management in the face of shifting environmental conditions.
- Capacity Building and Information Sharing: The partnership will facilitate the joint organization of workshops, seminars, and regional and international conferences. These events will promote information sharing and capacity building, fostering a robust exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two institutions.
- Funding Opportunities: HYDRO and UKCEH will collaborate on applications for national and international funding opportunities in relevant areas. This collaborative approach aims to secure the necessary resources to support innovative projects and initiatives.
- Policy and Decision-Making: The partnership will identify opportunities to transfer scientific evidence into practical applications, improving policy and decision-making processes in both Ghana and the UK.
Dr Kissi emphasized the mutual benefits of this collaboration, noting that it will significantly enhance the Ghana Hydrological Authority’s technical expertise and institutional capacity. “For the Ghana Hydrological Authority, the collaboration will enhance our technical expertise, strengthen our institutional capacity, and provide access to cutting-edge research and innovative solutions,” he said.
For the UKCEH, the partnership offers the chance to apply their research in a practical context, gain insights from diverse environments, and contribute to global water resource management and climate adaptation efforts.
“We are enthusiastic about the opportunities this collaboration will bring,” Dr. Kissi stated. “It is a testament to our dedication to advancing hydrological science and practice in Ghana. We are confident that this partnership will yield significant benefits for our country and pave the way for sustainable water resource management.”
Credit: MyJoyOnline
Jul 4, 2024
Ghana has taken a significant step towards addressing its perennial housing and flooding challenges with the opening of the Built Environment National Conference on Housing and Hydrology (BENCHH) 2024.
The three-day event, currently underway at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, was formally opened by the Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who also launched the Ghana Hydrological Fund, a crucial initiative aimed at mitigating flood risks and improving water management across the nation.
Addressing a diverse assembly of government officials, industry experts and development partners, Minister Oppong Nkrumah emphasized the critical need for sustainable funding to tackle Ghana’s flooding problems, effectively announcing a GHS 1.5 million in seed funding.
“Government, through the Ministry of Works and Housing, has prioritized an allocation of GHC1.5 million as seed money for the fund,” he announced, calling upon all stakeholders, including development partners to contribute towards the success of the fund, highlighting its role in expediting essential projects such as drainage construction and dredging.
The Minister underscored the severity of Ghana’s flooding problem, particularly during the rainy season, exacerbated by inadequate drainage infrastructure and the escalating impact of climate change.
He revealed that only 2% of drainage channels in the Greater Accra Region, requiring concrete lining, have been addressed, reflecting the urgent need for comprehensive action.
This, he said, the fund aims to provide a structured financial mechanism to expedite necessary projects like drainage construction and dredging help address the country’s flooding problems head-on.
Beyond flooding, Minister Oppong Nkrumah addressed Ghana’s housing deficit, currently standing at 1.8 million units. He acknowledged challenges in affordable housing programs due to funding limitations and project delays, exacerbated by unfinished projects from previous administrations.
The Minister advocated for robust public-private partnerships, offering incentives to private developers to undertake large-scale affordable housing projects.
During the three-day BENCHH 2024 conference, discussions will include regulatory reforms and the establishment of a Works Inspectorate Unit to ensure adherence to building and safety standards.
The Ministry aims to present comprehensive reports on government initiatives, achievements, and challenges, seeking input from stakeholders on innovative approaches.
Minister Oppong Nkrumah expressed confidence in the outcomes of BENCHH 2024, highlighting the potential of collaborative efforts to drive tangible progress in Ghana’s built environment sector.
He urged participants to actively engage in discussions and contribute their expertise towards crafting actionable strategies that address the nation’s housing and hydrology challenges comprehensively.
Source: The Chronicle
Feb 24, 2024
A formal handing over ceremony has been held at the Ministry of Works and Housing between the outgoing and incoming ministers.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday February 20, at the Ministry of Works and Housing. The outgoing minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye gracefully passed the baton to the newly appointed Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
Expressing gratitude to the dedicated staff and Management of the Ministry for their unwavering support during his tenure, Asenso-Boakye urged them to extend the same cooperation to the incoming Minister.
Mr Asenso-Boakye recounted how the Ministry, which primarily deals with public infrastructure, suffered from underfunding because of the adverse impact of Covid-19, on the country’s finances, but that notwithstanding, he added that the Ministry chalked some modest achievements during his time.
He mentioned the establishment of the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), aimed at assisting low-to-middle income earners with rent advance payments, thus enhancing housing accessibility. He added that the NRAS has benefitted 1,492 individuals as of January 31, 2024.
Furthermore, Asenso-Boakye’s tenure saw the transformation of the Hydrological Services Department into the autonomous Ghana Hydrological Authority through the passage of the Ghana Hydrological Authority Act, 2022 (Act 1085). This move has significantly bolstered water management practices across the nation.
Additionally, the establishment of the Real Estate Agency Council (REAC) under Asenso-Boakye’s tenure is to regulate real estate transactions and also promote transparency and adherence to standards in the real estate market.
Efforts to review and amend the Rent Act, 1963, and the Rent Control Law, 1986, are underway, with a draft Bill currently before Parliament, aimed at removing the inherent constraints and stimulating private investment into the sector. He added the rent control has been working on the digitization of the Rent Control Department to better serve the public; and their digitized operations will commence next month.
Mr Asenso-Boakye also initiated steps towards the establishment of the Ghana Housing Authority (GHA) to regulate, plan and manage public housing including affordable housing particularly for low-to-middle income earners. This has received cabinet approval and it’s on its way to Parliament for consideration and approval. The Ministry was also successful in the passage of new building regulations with the view to ensuring a resilient built environment.
Noteworthy among his initiatives is the revised National Affordable Housing Programme, which seeks to subsidize housing for Ghanaians through the provision of land and infrastructure and invites the private sector to come, build and sell at an agreed price. The first project under this programme is the Pokuase affordable housing project which is to build 8,000 housing units. Infrastructure works are currently going on at the site.
Moreover, significant strides were made in the Redevelopment Programme, with housing units built for public sector workers at various locations, including Ridge, Airport Residential Area, Ringway Estate and Lartebiokorshie, 112 apartment units are currently under construction.
Incoming Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah commended Asenso-Boakye and the Ministry staff for their remarkable achievements despite the economic challenges, promising to build upon their successes in service to the nation.
Credit: 3News
Feb 14, 2024
President Akufo-Addo has appointed Kwesimintsim Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Prince Hamid Armah as the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing in a latest reshuffle.
The former Executive Secretary of National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) confirmed his appointment exclusively interview with Adomonline.com even though the announcement is yet to be made public.
Dr Armah’s appointment forms part of a major reshuffle which is expected to take place today, February 14, 2024.
This follows a meeting held on Friday, February 9, at the Jubilee House where Akufo-Addo reportedly concluded on the names for a reshuffle.
The President is poised to make significant changes to his ministerial appointments after months of public demands.
Originally slated for December, the reshuffle was rescheduled for February following the conclusion of the ruling party’s internal elections to preempt any unsuccessful candidates from attributing their loss to the president.
Credit: AdomOnline
