GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Parliament has given the green light for a $150 million financing agreement to support the ongoing Greater Accra Resilient Integrated Development (GARID) project.
The decision came after a contentious session that saw the Minority initially attempting to block the loan approval.
Eventually, the House approved the funding with a narrow margin, tallying 137 votes in favor and 132 against.
The agreement, between the government of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group, aims to enhance flood risk and solid waste management in the Greater Accra Region.
The GARID project seeks to minimize the impact of floods on residents, businesses, and offices situated in flood-prone areas along the Odaw River channel in Accra, ultimately fostering economic and social development in the region.
Background information reveals that the government launched the GARID project in 2020 with an initial funding of $200 million from the World Bank to address flooding in the Greater Accra Region.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, $65 million was reallocated to finance pandemic-related expenses, leaving a funding gap that necessitated the current additional financing.
One of the key issues raised during the parliamentary debate was the lack of progress on certain project sites.
The Minority highlighted that despite the substantial allocation of funds, some project sites, such as Agbogbloshie and the dredging of the Odaw River, showed minimal to no progress.
This led to calls for a forensic audit by the World Bank to investigate project expenditure and progress.
The Speaker of Parliament, after considering these concerns, called for further investigation and report from the Finance and Works and Housing committees, which had visited project sites to assess progress.
The Minority emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the use of project funds, especially in light of the apparent lack of progress in some areas despite significant financial allocations.
