The Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the World Bank, Mr. Wencai Zhang, has praised the significant progress made under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project during a monitoring visit to key project sites in Accra.
Accompanied by a team of World Bank officials, Mr. Zhang toured several intervention areas, including Circle, Achimota-Abofu, and Alogboshie. At Circle, the delegation inspected the ongoing construction of the Nima-Paloma Drain and the dredging of the Odaw River Basin – both of which are critical to reducing the risk of flooding in Accra.
The team then visited Achimota-Abofu, where they assessed reconstruction works on a severely damaged section of the Nima-Paloma Drain. The tour concluded at Alogboshie, a low-income community benefiting from integrated upgrading interventions aimed at improving sanitation, infrastructure, and resilience to flooding.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Zhang lauded the GARID Project for the impressive strides made in addressing flood risk and improving solid waste management in the Greater Accra Region.
“The progress on the ground is commendable, and I urge the implementers to ensure sustainability measures are embedded in every aspect of the project so that the benefits last long after the project ends.”
He also took time to engage with residents of beneficiary communities, many of whom expressed appreciation for the interventions that have started to positively transform their neighborhoods.
Mr. Moses Gasor, the Chairman of the Alogboshie Community Development Committee, shared her excitement with the team:
“Before this project, flooding was a nightmare here. Now, we see real changes happening, and our community feels safer and cleaner. We’re grateful to the World Bank and the government for this support.”
The GARID Project Coordinator, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfoh, assured the delegation of the project team’s commitment to delivering on its mandate.
“We are working closely with stakeholders and communities to ensure that these interventions are inclusive, effective, and sustainable,” Dr. Sarfoh noted. “The World Bank’s continuous support and supervision inspire us to keep pushing toward our goal of a flood-resilient Accra.”
The GARID Project, Ghana’s largest World Bank-funded urban resilience project, is focused on improving flood risk management and solid waste services in the Odaw River Basin while enhancing infrastructure and services in low-income flood-prone communities.