Flooding identified as main climate impact within Greater Accra

GIZ Ghana and Allianz Climate Solutions GmbH (ACS) study, has identified flooding as the main climate risk impact affecting three assembly areas in the Greater Accra Region and causing havoc to the people.

These are the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the Ga East Municipal Assembly and the Ga West Municipal Assembly.

The Consultants, HKV, surveyed 632 objects within the three assembly areas and identified 368 educational facilities, 45 government offices, 32 health facilities, 33 lorry stations and 56 markets and shops as assets prone to flooding.

Other areas identified are two library facilities, 57 culverts and drains and one court building.

The survey also identified about 100 assets to have flood depths of more than 30 centimeters and with significant damage while those with depth less than 30 centimeters do not result in significant damage.

The Odaw drain near the Kwame Nkrumah Cycle was also identified as the main receptacle for all the flood waters within the Region, and the need to keep it desilted at all times since rainfall patterns have become unpredictable.

The GIZ has, therefore, held an “Exposure Modelling and Economics for Climate Adaptation Conceptual Result” workshop on Wednesday, to engage the three assemblies and relevant stakeholders involved in flood risk reduction within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) to discuss the results of how exposed the public assets belonging to the municipalities are.

Mr Matthias Range, the Team Leader of the GIZ Develop Insurability Project, said climate change and a variety of other risk drivers continued to increase human suffering and economic losses, emphasizing the need to adopt strategic measures to safeguard the country’s development.

He said the HKV Consultants was, therefore, contracted to assist the assemblies in analyzing the exposure and vulnerability of their public assets against flood.

That would enable them to make informed decision in strengthening climate resilience sustainably by considering risk transfer solutions alongside the prevention, preparedness, reduction and recovery strategies being adopted currently within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Mr Range said.

Mr Range said preceding the analysis, the municipalities supported by GIZ and Allianz Climate Solutions, updated their public asset register through a georeferencing activity.

Dr Benjamin Antwi-Boasiako, the Senior Project Manager, Climate Advisory at Allianz Climate Solutions, said they want to support developing countries to be more resilient to climate change impacts.

He said Allianz had over 129 years of experience to develop an extensive expertise to manage risks.

Their goal towards the project is to help municipalities identify, reduce and transfer their residual risks.

“Allianz is happy to use its expertise to develop an insurance product in consultations with the municipalities.

“Having an updated public asset registry and current information about how exposed the municipalities public assets are, will help in the design and structure of a risk transfer solution.

“It will help Allianz Climate Solutions to develop insurance product for further decision making by the assemblies,” Dr Antwi-Boasiako said.

However, after the product design the assemblies would have the right to choose their preferred insurance company, which would take care of the risks that still remained after climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, he explained.

The meeting also discussed the way forward on updating and standardizing contingency plans of the municipalities to enhance the response phase of their disaster management strategy.

Another key issue discussed was on cost effective and efficient waste management systems of the assemblies to keep the drains clear to reduce the risk of flood in the municipalities.

All these activities are part of contributing to creating grounds for the municipalities to be able to consider taking insurance as part of their flood risk management strategy.

The GIZ GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and supports the German Government and public and private sector clients around countries in achieving their objectives in international cooperation.

Source: GNA

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