Ranking Member on Parliament’s Select Committee on Local Government and Decentralisation, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, has flagged concerns about the state of several major flood control projects launched under the previous administration, cautioning that delays in finishing these critical works could expose thousands of Ghanaians to repeated flooding.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, during a statement on the country’s recent flooding incidents, the Bantama MP underscored the pressing need for government to clarify progress on key flood mitigation projects meant to curb the destructive effects of heavy rains, especially in flood-prone communities.
Hon. Asenso-Boakye recalled that from 2018 to 2024, the Akufo-Addo administration invested roughly GH¢540 million through the National Flood Control Programme—which he described as the largest direct government investment in flood control in the nation’s history—to fund drainage construction, rehabilitation and desilting efforts across the country.
He also pointed out that the previous administration obtained US$350 million in World Bank financing under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project to boost flood resilience and enhance drainage systems in the capital.
He explained that prior to the change in government, significant GARID-related works had already begun, including dredging of the Odaw, as well as the Achimota-Abofu Drain, South Kaneshie Drain and Dr. Busia Highway Drain—all critical measures intended to lower flood risk in some of Accra’s most exposed neighborhoods.
The Bantama legislator added that the Accra Flood Early Warning System had been put into operation to strengthen disaster readiness, while procurement and engineering designs for major infrastructure like the Atomic East and West Detention Ponds had reached advanced stages of completion.
Nonetheless, Hon. Asenso-Boakye voiced worry over reports suggesting that a number of these vital projects may have slowed down or ground to a halt.
He cautioned against taking such delays lightly, noting that these are not routine infrastructure projects but essential flood defence systems protecting lives, property and economic activity.
“These are strategic flood protection projects, not ordinary infrastructure,” he stressed.
He accordingly urged government to furnish Parliament with a full update on the implementation status of all major flood control initiatives and to act swiftly to ensure their timely completion.
Hon. Asenso-Boakye stressed that with heavy rains set to persist, government cannot afford to delay interventions designed to shield communities from future flood disasters.
He maintained that continued investment in drainage infrastructure, alongside proper maintenance and enforcement of planning regulations, remains essential to tackling Ghana’s ongoing flooding problem.