In a landmark move to confront Kumasi's esca­lating flood crisis, the Minister of Works, Hous­ing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has announced a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy backed by international expertise and World Bank support.The announcement was made during a high-level stakeholders' validation workshop held in Kumasi, yesterday.Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei (seated middle) with participants at the validation workshopAddressing a packed hall of regional leaders, municipal chief executives, technical experts, and development partners, Mr Adjei delivered a stirring speech that underscored the urgency of the situa­tion and the government's commitment to lasting solutions."This is no longer just a development challenge; it is a humanitarian and economic crisis demanding urgent and sustained action," the Minister declared, citing the rising toll of flood-related fatalities, prop­erty loss, and disruptions to commerce in Kumasi over the past decade.Kumasi's vulnerability to flooding has worsened due to rapid urbanisation, poor waste disposal practices, and outdated drainage infrastructure.

The city's reorganisation into seven assemblies since 2012-while improving local governance-has also complicated coordinated urban planning.Flood-prone settlements along streams and wet­lands, particularly in low-income areas like Aboabo and Asawasi, have become hotspots for disaster.The Minister lamented the accumulation of solid waste in drainage channels, which has drastically reduced the city's ability to manage storm water.To address these challenges, the Ministry has engaged two renowned international consultancy firms: Deltares (Netherlands) to conduct a strategic, basin-level flood risk assessment across the Wiwi, Sisa, and Aboabo watersheds.

Their study would identify "fluvial and pluvial flood risks" and recom­mend phased interventions.The leader, Bobby Russell, indicated that by 2050 the cost of loss through flooding would be $220m per annum indicating that currently "it is about $89m" and there was the need to streamline mea­sures to stem the ride.INES Ingenieros (Spain) is also tasked with a community-level vulnerability assessment in Aboa­bo and Asawasi.

Their work will focus on transport corridors, structural weaknesses, and participatory resilience planning.Together, these studies form the backbone of the forthcoming Kumasi Resilient Project, a flagship initiative under President John Dramani Mahama's national reset agenda."We are taking decisive steps to provide long-term solutions to flooding in Kumasi," Mr Adjei affirmed. "Our vision is clear: a climate-resilient Kumasi that safeguards its citizens and preserves its identity as the Garden City of Ghana."Mr Santiago Ezequiel Arias, Senior Urban Devel­opment Specialist at the World Bank and Task Team Leader for the GARID Project, on his part pledged the Bank's full support for Kumasi's resilience efforts.Earlier in the day, the Minister and his delegation paid a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minis­ter, Dr Frank Amoakohene, who lauded President Mahama's prioritisation of flood control and assured the government of Kumasi's full cooperation.The Ministry of Works and Housing has commit­ted to implementing the recommendations from the studies swiftly and effectively.These findings would inform future dialogue with the World Bank to secure capital investments for infrastructure upgrades and community protection.As the workshop concluded, optimism filled the room.