Project Phoenix progress

Building the foundations for Ghana’s flood resilience

Project Phoenix is ARWC’s proposed programme to support flood resilience, drainage improvement and sustainable water management in Ghana. Its immediate focus is establishing the evidence, institutional requirements and project-preparation arrangements needed to develop credible infrastructure proposals.

Our guiding principle is straightforward: evidence before intervention.

Hydrological evidence

On 9 October 2026, ARWC requested a revised proposal from the Ghana Hydrological Authority for daily river-discharge records covering 2016–2025 at Yarugu, Pwalugu and Lawra, where available.

The request also seeks information on record completeness, data quality, station metadata and permitted analytical use. These details will help determine whether the available records are suitable for preliminary assessment.

The revised proposal remains RESPONSE PENDING in ARWC’s reviewed records. The request does not constitute a purchase order, acceptance of charges or permission to redistribute data. Acquisition remains on PROCUREMENT HOLD pending technical review and the necessary approvals.

Institutional engagement

ARWC is pursuing exploratory technical engagement with CSIR–Water Research Institute. A replacement meeting date remains to be confirmed, and the meeting outcome remains PENDING.

These discussions are intended to clarify scientific requirements and potential areas of contribution. They do not establish institutional endorsement, a formal partnership or approval to undertake fieldwork.

Project-preparation funding

ARWC has developed a proposed £50,000 non-equity Development Facility to support evidence acquisition, technical scoping, feasibility preparation, safeguards and institutional coordination.

Exploratory outreach began in October. The facility remains PROPOSED: outreach does not establish a funding commitment, and this update makes no claim that funding has been secured.

From preparation to infrastructure delivery

The long-term objective is to support infrastructure that can be designed, financed, constructed, maintained and assessed against measurable outcomes.

The proposed pathway runs from evidence and options appraisal through feasibility, engineering design, approvals, financing and procurement, construction, commissioning and operations. Each stage depends on the relevant evidence, permissions and competent decisions.

Next priorities

ARWC’s immediate priorities are to obtain the revised hydrological-data proposal, confirm the next CSIR-WRI engagement, refine technical requirements and progress the funding proposition. Governance and expenditure controls remain part of this preparation.

Publication statement

Institutional engagement does not imply endorsement, partnership, funding commitment or project approval. Proposed interventions remain subject to technical assessment, applicable permissions, financing and procurement authorisation.