Greater Accra flood response strained by World Bank project delays and emergency drain clearing

The $350 million Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project, funded by the World Bank to improve drainage, waste management and flood early‑warning systems, has been hampered by cash‑flow problems. Ghana’s Finance Ministry fiscal controls and exchange‑rate conditions have delayed contractor payments, causing work stoppages and slowing key flood‑control works after the June 2026 rains that killed at least a dozen residents. The World Bank downgraded the implementation rating to “moderately unsatisfactory,” noting a temporary GH¢13.8 million withdrawal, only $17.5 million of the $40.8 million needed this year having been allocated, and overall disbursement of roughly 40 % of the total funding.

In parallel, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and waste‑management firm Zoomlion launched a multi‑site drain‑clearing operation on 1 July 2026. The “No Do No Do” campaign desilted drains at six flood‑prone sites—including Okponglo, Tema East and West, Alajo, Santa Maria and Ablekuma—to restore storm‑water flow ahead of the next rains. NADMO officials stressed that illegal dumping contributes about half of Accra’s flooding and called for stricter enforcement of sanitation by‑laws. The combined reports highlight both the financing challenges hindering long‑term flood mitigation and the immediate emergency actions taken to reduce flood risk in the Greater Accra region.