The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Hydrological Authority, Dr. John Kissi, has disclosed that $5 billion is needed to effectively tackle the country's persistent flooding problems.

This estimate, according to Dr. Kissi, is based on the extensive analysis of the severity and impact of flooding incidents nationwide.

Speaking before the Parliamentary Assurance Committee on Wednesday, Dr. Kissi responded to a query from the committee's chairman, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, regarding the financial requirements for comprehensive flood prevention and management. 

He stressed that the $5 billion is crucial for addressing the flood risks across all regions, cities, and towns in Ghana.

"In 2023, under the National Flood Control Programme, we received about 92 million cedis to undertake flood mitigation works across the country," Dr. Kissi explained. However, he pointed out that the current funding falls significantly short of what is required.

"Looking at the flood risk challenges across the country, we estimate that we need about $5 billion to comprehensively address the issue," Dr. Kissi stated, highlighting the scale of the challenge Ghana faces in mitigating the effects of perennial flooding.

Read the transcript below;

Dr. John Kissi: So, in 2023 under the National Flood Control Programme, we received about 92 million cedis to undertake flood mitigation works across the country. Thank you. Honourable Chair

SOA: And what? What will you have required ideally, what? What will have been adequate for you to do your work? 

Dr. John Kissi: So honorable Chair, our work that we've done looking at the flood risk challenges across the country, we estimate that we need about five billion dollars across the country, 

SOA: Dollars? 

Dr. John Kissi: Yes, to address comprehensively the flood risk challenge that we have that is looking across every city in every town in every region of the country. It's a significant challenge that we have, honorable chair.