By: Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Head of the Centre for Settlement Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Divine Ahadzie, has projected a possible recurrence of the twin flood and fire disaster around the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange that claimed the lives of more than 125 lives in Accra in 2015, if no specific steps are taken by the government.
In the prediction of the Professor of Construction and Human Settlement, studies have revealed that within the next few years, if nothing concrete is done to stop the flooding in the vicinity of the accident, Ghana could experience a similar incident, if not worse.
He has thus proposed the design and construction of a Retention Basin for the Odaw-Korle catchment as the most pragmatic means of reducing the risk of the annual flooding in the area by 30 per cent to save five point-two million Dollars in financial cost.
Prof. Ahadzie made the recommendation in his Professorial inaugural address in Kumasi.
Touching on building flood resilience communities in the country, Prof. Ahadzie disclosed that since 2021, about 13 out of the 16 administrative regions in the country have experienced flooding due to different factors.
He suggested the design and construction of a large retention basin in the Odaw-Korle catchment towards averting a possible recurrence of the 2015 flood-fire disaster at the Nkrumah interchange area.
“What is clear is that, our preparedness is not getting any better. And now Madam Chair, the June 3rd 2015 incident is equivalent to what we call a 10-year return period storm. Tje 10 years is approaching. What it means is that, the incident can happen anytime, it could be this year, it could be next year, it could be the following year. The question is, as a nation, have we done enough to mitigate the worse of the worse if the 3rd June incident is to happen again?”, the globally acclaimed Professor of Human settlement warned.
Prof. Ahadzie described Ghana’s housing system as elitisms favouring the well-to-do in the society requiring a national re-definition of the affordability. According to him, a recent survey has proven that individual tenants spend between 10 and 48 percent of their income on rent.
The 58-year old Professor of Construction and Human Settlement, aside from being the current Head of the Centre for Settlement Studies at the KNUST, has developed a Master of Philosophy, MPhil and a PhD programme in Disaster Prevention and Management being considered for introduction by the University very soon.
He became an Associate Professor in 2015 and attained a full professor status six years later.
His research, publications and innovations in the areas of human settlement, flooding, housing risk management have earned him national and global recognition and awards.
Some of the building inventions including a new and improved burglar proof with an escape route in times of fire outbreak in the home were showcased at the precinct of the venue of the inaugural lecture.
The Professorial inaugural lecture was graced by people from chieftaincy both from the Volta region and National House of Chiefs, the academia, local Assemblies, family and friends.
The lecture touched on issues such as housing, human settlement, flooding, resilient communities and impactful research.
Professor Ahadzie called for a review of the 1992 Constitution to re-define housing as a basic human right so as to compel governments to give attention to the sector. Also, Assembly members, chiefs and MPs must all get actively involved in the promotion and building flood resilient communities to protect life and property noting that, for now, no one is safe from ramifications of flooding since residents of both low and highlands are affected in diverse ways from the phenomenon.
Prof. Ahadzie called on academia to always focus on research that is is not just relevant but impactful on society such that, such works help solve the myriad of socio-economic challenges of humanity.
The Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Prof. Rita Dickson, eulogized Professor Ahadzie for his immense contribution to both the university and larger society through his research, publications and innovations.
