Kumasi’s perennial flooding problem is set to receive a scientific and technical boost as two leading international consultancy firms—Deltares from the Netherlands and INES from Spain—begin work on studies that will shape a comprehensive flood mitigation plan for the city.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water Resources, is part of President John Dramani Mahama’s reset agenda to strengthen urban resilience and safeguard livelihoods.
At a stakeholder validation workshop in Kumasi, Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing, and Water Resources, explained that Deltares would lead a basin-wide study of the Wiwi, Sisa, and Aboabo river basins, the main catchment areas contributing to flooding in the metropolis. The study will diagnose the root causes of recurrent floods and propose actionable solutions.
Complementing this, INES will conduct a flood vulnerability assessment in Asawase and Aboabo—two low-income communities most affected by flooding. The findings are expected to inform targeted interventions aimed at protecting vulnerable populations.
“The data and technical expertise we are gathering will form the foundation of the Kumasi Resilient Project, a long-term initiative to shield the city from devastating floods,” Mr. Adjei said.
The World Bank has also thrown its weight behind the initiative. Mr. Santiago Ezequiel Arias, a Senior Urban Development Specialist and Task Team Leader for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, pledged the Bank’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s broader flood control efforts.
Regional leaders, including Dr. Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti Regional Minister, welcomed the move, praising the government for prioritising flood management. Stakeholders at the workshop expressed optimism that with the input of international expertise and global partnerships, Kumasi’s long-standing flood challenges could soon be addressed with sustainable solutions.
