Policy analyst Franklin Cudjoe has defended the implementation of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project following recent flooding in Accra, arguing that concerns about delays are misplaced and that the real issue lies in how funds were previously allocated.
In a post reflecting on the state of the project, Cudjoe said it was inaccurate to suggest that the Government of Ghana or the Ministry of Finance had delayed the World Bank–funded initiative.
He indicated that between 2019 and 2024, the previous administration disbursed about US$103.8 million from the US$350 million World Bank loan for the project.
According to him, the breakdown of expenditures showed that 21 per cent (about US$22.1 million) was spent on training, while 7 per cent (about US$7.9 million) went into consultancy services.
He further stated that the largest share—about US$60.8 million, representing 59 per cent—was used for COVID-19-related spending, while approximately US$1.68 million (about 2 per cent) went into other costs, including vehicle purchases.
Cudjoe argued that only about US$11.4 million, representing roughly 11 per cent of total disbursements during the period, was spent directly on flood prevention and mitigation works, which he described as the core objective of the project.
“Put plainly, nearly US$9 out of every US$10 went to things other than protecting Ghanaians from floods,” he stated.
He explained that when the current administration assumed office, it engaged the World Bank to ensure that remaining funds under the GARID project were realigned with its original purpose.
According to him, the Ministry of Finance secured approval to repurpose outstanding funds specifically toward flood control and drainage infrastructure.
Cudjoe described this move as a deliberate policy shift rather than a delay, insisting it was aimed at ensuring that project resources are directed toward intended outcomes.
He added that in 2025, about US$3 million was spent on flood mitigation works under the project, while in 2026 so far, approximately US$10.52 million has been disbursed for similar interventions.
This brings total spending on flood control works for 2025 and 2026 to about US$13.52 million, which he said already exceeds the US$11.4 million spent over the previous six-year period.
He further noted that the Ministry of Finance has approved the cedi equivalent of more than US$76 million under GARID for flood mitigation infrastructure for 2026 and 2027.
Cudjoe also stated that unlike the earlier period, no new funds have been allocated to training, consultancy services or vehicle purchases under the project in 2025 and 2026.
He maintained that the GARID project has not been delayed but rather refocused to ensure that funding is directed toward flood prevention infrastructure aimed at protecting lives, property and vulnerable communities in Accra.
