The World Bank’s Senior Social Development Specialist, Ms. Nneka Okereke, has led a team of experts on an inspection tour of the ongoing community upgrading and drainage improvement works under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project.
The inspection, conducted in collaboration with lecturers from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), aimed to assess the progress of the ongoing construction activities and compliance to the World Bank’s environmental and social safeguards regulations.
The tour covered key project sites, including Alogboshie and Akweteyman, where community upgrading activities are underway, Abofu, where a broken section of the Odaw river basin is being reconstructed, and Korle Gonno, where ongoing dredging of the Odaw channel is taking place to clear it of silt and solid waste ahead of the rainy season.
Ms. Nneka Okereke expressed satisfaction about the progress of work and commended the GARID Project for its innovative solutions to Environmental-and-Social-Risk-Management at the construction sites. She emphasized the importance of residents in project intervention areas speaking up if they experience any negative impacts from the construction activities; and stressed that such feedback is crucial for identifying issues promptly and implementing remedial measures to address them.
“The goal of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project is not only to enhance infrastructure but also to ensure that the well-being of the communities involved is safeguarded. We encourage residents to be active participants in this process by voicing any concerns they may have,” Ms. Okereke stated during the inspection.
The Project Manager for First Sky Construction Limited, Mr. Samuel Boateng, said the project will be completed within the stipulated eighteen months period. He assured the team that the contractor will strictly adhere to the World Bank’s environmental and social safeguards regulations.
The project’s commitment to environmental and social safeguards aligns with the World Bank’s dedication to responsible and sustainable development practices. The inspection tour serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts between the World Bank, academic institutions, and local communities in fostering resilience and integrated development in the Greater Accra region.