Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye Blames 2025 Fiscal Measures for Delays in GARID Flood Mitigation Project

Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency and Former Works and Housing Minister, Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye, has attributed delays in the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project to fiscal measures introduced by the Ministry of Finance in 2025.

In a statement on the project, Hon. Asenso Boakye said the recent World Bank assessment “confirms what many have observed: Ghana’s flagship flood mitigation programme (deal with the flooding and the waste management challenges associated with the Odaw Basin in Accra) has been significantly delayed by fiscal measures introduced by the Ministry of Finance in 2025, resulting in unpaid contractors, delayed Interim Payment Certificates, slower execution of works, and a downgrade of the project’s implementation performance.”

*NPP administration’s GARID progress*

He said the NPP government “did not leave GARID as a concept on paper. It secured World Bank financing, completed the engineering designs, awarded the contracts and commenced implementation of the country’s most comprehensive flood control programme.”

According to him, by the time the Akufo-Addo administration left office Performance-based dredging of the Odaw River had commenced, Achimota-Abofu Drain construction had been awarded and site handed over.

Also, South Kaneshie Drain construction had been awarded and work commenced, Dr. Busia Highway Drain contract had been signed and site handed over, Nima–Paloma–Odawna Drain improvement works had been awarded, Atomic East land protection had been completed.

Again, the Accra Flood Early Warning System had been procured, installed and was ready for operationalisation and Designs for the Atomic East and West Detention Ponds; the single most important intervention to reduce downstream flooding; had been completed and procurement was ready to commence.”

Hon. Asenso Boakye said “Today, the picture is very different. According to both the World Bank and the current project status, the Odaw dredging and Achimota-Abofu Drain works have slowed because contractors have not been paid. The Dr. Busia Highway Drain project is on hold. The Nima–Paloma–Odawna Drain project has stalled after the contractor abandoned site. The Atomic East and West Detention Ponds, despite completed designs, have seen no progress, while other critical interventions, including the Dome Bridge and Alajo Drain improvements, remain stalled.”

He stated that “The World Bank makes an important point: the problem is not the availability of funding. The project remains fully financed. The delays have largely resulted from fiscal controls imposed by the Ministry of Finance, which disrupted cash flows, delayed payments to contractors and slowed implementation.”