Ahmed Ibrahim calls for advanced flood forecasting to save lives

The Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim, has stressed the critical importance of implementing advanced flood forecasting and early-warning systems to protect Ghanaian lives and national infrastructure. Speaking during a working visit to the Ghana Hydrological Authority (HYDRO), the Minister underscored that proactive measures, rather than reactive responses, are essential to managing the perennial challenges posed by flooding across the country. Ibrahim emphasized that the transition to more sophisticated monitoring is no longer optional given the changing climate patterns affecting the region. During the engagement, Minister Ibrahim highlighted the necessity of relying on accurate and timely scientific data to drive policy and engineering decisions. He urged the management of HYDRO to significantly enhance their technical capabilities in hydrological data collection and analysis. By improving the precision of flood preparedness tools, the Ministry aims to ensure that communities in high-risk zones receive adequate warning before disaster strikes, thereby minimizing property damage and preventing avoidable fatalities. Beyond inland flooding, the Minister addressed the growing threat of coastal erosion along Ghana’s shoreline. He suggested that the nation should examine and adapt successful coastal protection strategies employed by neighboring West African countries, specifically Togo and Benin. Ibrahim noted that a regional perspective on environmental management could offer valuable insights into stabilizing the coast and protecting vulnerable fishing communities from the encroaching sea. Dr. Sylvester Darko, the Chief Executive Officer of HYDRO, welcomed the Minister’s focus on technical modernization and outlined the authority’s current initiatives in flood monitoring. Dr. Darko emphasized that while HYDRO is making strides in technical surveillance, long-term success depends heavily on inter-agency collaboration and sustained investment in infrastructure. The visit concluded with a commitment from the Ministry to support HYDRO in its mission to provide the data-driven solutions necessary for national development and environmental resilience.