EPA advocates master plan to tackle flooding in Sekondi-Takoradi

Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Western Region, Mr Kojo Opoku-Mensah, has proposed a master plan for all drainages in the Sekondi -Takoradi metropolis, to tackle   flooding due to high sea rise.

He stressed “We, as a metropolis, need a master plan for a proper drainage system, especially for areas close to the sea and are likely experience high sea levels. The Butuah and Essei Lagoons along that chain should be able to hold water. In the event of high sea rises, areas along the coast are likely to be exposed– they are vulnerable.”

Mr Opoku- Mensah made the suggestion at a day’s workshop organised by EPA at Sekondi, to enhance awareness on climate change, impacts and also discuss mitigation strategies, as part of the National Adaptation Plan.

He told participants that if adaptation capacity in climate change management  was low,  vulnerability  would  be  also high, adding that, increased  knowledge  and good motivation, were  key drivers, saying “We need to be motivated to  reduce exposure  by anticipating instead  of  being reactive.”

He said, areas around the Airport, Airport Ridge, the  Whin River areas  up to the Essei Lagoon, lied  in   lowlands  and that, any developments in these area,  would  reduce their capacity to hold water inflows, thereby   exposed to flooding in case of high  sea rise.

Mr Opoku-Mensah also spoke about how, the Casablanca beach in Ahanta West had lost its beautiful lagoon scenes, from 2012 to 2022, due to the construction of a sea defence wall in the area.

He noted that the environment, which also included structural, legal, institutional, enforcement and regulations   issues, were key in driving motivation for climate change mitigation, including management of plastics, tree planting and open defecation.

He said, the social aspect of the environment was very critical in   the discussion on climate change and adaptation, stressing the need to balance knowledge with enforcement and regulation.

Mr Opoku- Mensah said “As a way forward, we need to improve  low education on climate change, and that also calls for collaboration at the inter- agency and institutional levels so that, together, we look more  at  how we pool our resources with Non-Governmental Organisations  (NGOS) like Friend of Nation,  and tackle  the critical issues  of tree planting  and  plastic waste and  open defecation.”

He again noted how the heat wave within the Western Region was gradually increasing, a situation, which he said, could be mitigated through the planting of more tree seedlings in every neighbourhood.

The Western Regional Director of EPA, Mr. Shine Fiagome, encouraged Ghanaians to embrace the Greening Ghana project which served as

a key measure in climate adaptation.

He also encouraged planners, especially at the various assemblies to integrate climate change adaptations into all physical planning and decision-making to control flash flooding and coastal erosion.

Mr. Fiagome said “We should begin to act as real change agents by educating and adopting simple environmentally acceptable practices and play our roles well for the benefit of future generations. Climate change concerns were no longer the problem of the western countries but an alarming global catastrophe that needed well- targeted interventions to save the planet earth.”

An Assistant Programme Officer at EPA, George Ofosu- Amoako, said “drought, flooding and famine” were some immediate impacts of climate change, as humans strive to produce the basic and desirable needs.

FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, SEKONDI