Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has defended the government’s management of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, rejecting claims that the Ministry of Finance has delayed the implementation of the World Bank-funded initiative.
In an analysis shared publicly, Cudjoe argued that the current administration has instead redirected the remaining funds toward the project’s primary objective of flood prevention and mitigation after reviewing how the loan was utilised under the previous administration.
According to him, the previous government drew down US$103.8 million from the World Bank’s US$350 million GARID facility between 2019 and 2024.
He stated that US$22.1 million (21%) of the amount was spent on training, US$7.9 million (7%) on consultancy services, while US$60.8 million (59%) was redirected to COVID-19-related expenditure. An additional US$1.68 million (2%), he said, was used for other expenses, including the purchase of vehicles.
Cudjoe noted that only US$11.4 million, representing about 11 per cent of the amount drawn down during the period, was invested in flood prevention and mitigation infrastructure—the core objective of the GARID Project.
“Nearly nine out of every ten dollars were spent on activities other than protecting Ghanaians from floods,” he stated.
According to Cudjoe, upon assuming office, the Mahama administration engaged the World Bank to restructure the utilisation of the remaining loan balance, ensuring that future disbursements would be dedicated exclusively to flood mitigation infrastructure.
He described the decision as a responsible measure rather than a delay in project implementation.
Cudjoe further disclosed that the government spent approximately US$3 million on flood mitigation works under the project in 2025, while about US$10.52 million has so far been released for similar works in 2026.
He said the combined expenditure of approximately US$13.52 million over the two-year period already exceeds the US$11.4 million spent on flood mitigation during the previous six years.
According to the policy analyst, the Ministry of Finance has also approved the cedi equivalent of more than US$76 million under the GARID Project for flood mitigation infrastructure to be implemented in 2026 and 2027.
He added that, unlike previous spending patterns, no funds have been allocated to training, consultancy services or vehicle purchases since the current administration took office.
Cudjoe maintained that the government has not stalled the GARID Project but has instead refocused its implementation to ensure that borrowed funds are used for their intended purpose.
The Ministry of Finance has not yet issued a separate statement responding to concerns about delays in the project, while the figures cited by Cudjoe represent his assessment of the project’s financial records and implementation.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
