By Zobia Zulfqar 
A World Bank implementation report has revealed that fiscal controls introduced by Ghana’s Ministry of Finance significantly delayed the implementation of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, one of the country’s largest flood mitigation programmes, before devastating floods claimed lives in the capital.
The findings come after severe flooding struck Accra on June 29, killing at least 12 people, displacing thousands of residents and causing widespread damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.
In its latest implementation update released in May 2026, the World Bank downgraded the performance rating of the 350 million dollar GARID Project from satisfactory to “Moderately Unsatisfactory,” despite confirming that the project remains fully financed.
According to the report, the downgrade was primarily attributed to fiscal measures introduced by the Ministry of Finance in 2025, which significantly slowed the release of funds needed for ongoing construction and infrastructure works.
The World Bank stated that although financing for the project was available, government-imposed spending restrictions created serious liquidity challenges that left contractors unpaid and delayed several critical flood control projects.
The GARID Project was established to improve flood resilience across Greater Accra through drainage infrastructure, solid waste management, climate adaptation and urban upgrading initiatives benefiting approximately 500,000 residents living in flood-prone communities.
While the report noted that some components of the programme had achieved positive results, implementation of major infrastructure works slowed considerably because of funding constraints.
Among the project’s achievements, the World Bank said the flood early warning system had been fully installed and was operational. Waste collection services in underserved communities also exceeded annual performance targets.
However, following the deadly June 29 floods, questions have emerged over the effectiveness of the early warning system after no public flood alert was reportedly issued before the disaster.
The report disclosed that the Ministry of Finance imposed a ceiling on project disbursements during 2025 and temporarily withdrew GH¢13.8 million from the project’s account, reducing cash available for construction activities.
As a result, contractors experienced prolonged payment delays, causing civil works to slow significantly across multiple project sites.
According to the World Bank, by April 14, 2026, only 137 million dollars, representing about 40 percent of the total project financing, had been disbursed.
The report further revealed that project disbursements were effectively frozen for approximately 16 months between November 2024 and March 2026 before funding resumed earlier this year.
Government has since taken steps to improve the situation.
The Ministry of Finance returned the previously withdrawn funds in March 2026 and processed a withdrawal request worth 10.5 million dollars in February, marking the first major disbursement since November 2023.
Although the World Bank welcomed those measures, it concluded that they had only partially resolved the project’s financial challenges.
“These actions have partially eased liquidity constraints,” the report stated, noting that a significant financing gap continues to affect ongoing works.
Project managers estimate that approximately 40.8 million dollars is required to sustain activities this year.
However, according to the report, the Ministry of Finance has allocated only 17.5 million dollars, leaving a substantial funding shortfall.
In addition, a separate request by the Ministry of Works and Housing seeking approval for contracts worth 79.8 million dollars remained pending at the time of the assessment.
The report indicated that GARID was not the only World Bank-supported initiative affected by the government’s expenditure controls.
Several other programmes, including projects focused on education and youth employment, reportedly experienced similar delays as government sought to meet fiscal targets under Ghana’s International Monetary Fund-supported economic reform programme.
At the time, policy analysts argued that the temporary spending controls were aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and improving debt sustainability rather than cancelling development projects altogether.
The impact of the funding delays has received renewed attention following the June floods.
According to Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, the flooding displaced nearly 39,000 people across Greater Accra, while additional flooding in the Central Region claimed at least 18 more lives in subsequent weeks.
The heavy rainfall also exceeded historical records for the month, intensifying pressure on drainage infrastructure throughout the capital.
In response to the disaster, President John Dramani Mahama authorised the release of GH¢300 million from the national contingency fund to support emergency relief operations and long-term flood mitigation measures.
The allocation was approved within days of the disaster, even as debate continues over whether earlier funding of ongoing flood prevention projects could have reduced the impact of the devastating floods.
The GARID Project remains one of Ghana’s flagship climate resilience initiatives, and officials say accelerating stalled works will be critical to improving flood management and protecting vulnerable communities from future extreme weather events.