The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (MLDGRD), Daniel Botwe, has embarked on a tour to assess the progress of desilting works and flood mitigation efforts in Accra.
The tour, which began on Monday, covered flood hotspot areas in the Ablekuma West, Ablekuma North, and Ablekuma Central Municipalities.
These regions are beneficiaries of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project.
During the tour, Mr. Botwe emphasized the importance of maintaining and improving drainage infrastructure to ensure the safety and well-being of residents within the Municipalities.
He commended the dedication of the Assemblies involved and encouraged the use of internal funds alongside the GARID grant.
The GARID Project Coordinator, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfoh, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in utilizing the grant to enhance flood resilience in the city.
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He highlighted the significance of desilting and dredging secondary and tertiary drains in beneficiary communities as a means of achieving quick-wins in building a more resilient Accra.
The grant scheme supports the operations and maintenance of priority drains in communities along the Odaw River channel. Previous disbursements have been utilized for developing comprehensive drainage network maps, asset registers, and procuring equipment like GPS devices and laptops.
Mr. George Cyril Bray, the Dean of the Greater Accra Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives, acknowledged the importance of the GARID Project’s grant in mitigating floods in the respective jurisdictions.
He emphasized that the initiative is essential for maintaining the functionality of drainage systems and reducing the risks associated with flooding.
The Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives expressed their gratitude for the support received from the GARID Project and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the resilience of Accra.
The partnership with GARID is seen as a vital step in achieving long-term flood mitigation and ensuring the well-being of Accra’s communities.
