Former President John Dramani Mahama has accused the government of misappropriating a combined $193 million intended for flood management and sanitation projects in Accra.
Speaking during a community engagement at Odorkor in the Ablekuma North constituency as part of Phase III of his Greater Accra campaign tour, Mahama alleged that the Ministry of Sanitation squandered these crucial funds.
The funds in question include $150 million from the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project, which was aimed at improving flood risk management and solid waste handling in the Odaw River basin.
Mahama also pointed to an additional $43 million from the World Bank, designated for desilting major drains in Accra, which he claims has been misused.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate criticized the current administration for failing to use the funding to address the perennial flooding issues in the capital, despite receiving significant financial support to tackle the problem.
“Accra continues to experience severe flooding every year because the government has failed to utilize these funds for their intended purpose,” Mahama remarked.
He assured residents of Odorkor that a future NDC government would take concrete action to resolve the flooding challenges in the area. Mahama emphasized his commitment to ensuring that flood management projects are fully implemented to prevent further damage and hardship for residents.
The GARID project, launched with support from the World Bank, was intended to enhance Accra’s resilience to flooding and improve sanitation conditions in vulnerable communities. However, according to Mahama, the government has failed to deliver on these promises, leaving many areas, including Odorkor, still grappling with flood-related issues.
Source: www.kumasimail.com