Communications Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is hopeful that the ambitious Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project which seeks to improve flood risk in the capital is completed as scheduled.

Acknowledging that flood has been a major issue in the country, George Ayisi was optimistic that the project is a sustainable means to avert the perennial problem.

Mr Ayisi bemoaned the perennial floods that destroy properties and in severe cases claim lives.

"We try to save lives and properties before the relief parts come in. People are rescued and brought to safety then we try to keep body and soul together. It is something that we have encountered so many times.

“We would rather hope that it is resolved once and for all. That is why I am excited about the GARID project, I pray it sees the light of day so that we will make progress on that score,” he said.

The issue of flooding in the capital came up for discussion after parts of Accra got submerged on Saturday after hours of rainfall.

Suggesting other modus operandi that could tackle the problem on JoyNews’ The Probe, the NADMO Communications Director said a wholistic reengineering and decongestions of parts of Accra should be considered.

“When the place is congested and the solid waste begins to grow or increase in those areas and then the possibility for them to choke the gutters is high,” he told Emefa Apawu on Sunday.

The GARID Project

GARID is the first in a series of projects designed to build the resilience of the national capital with the initial phase covering a five-year period, from 2020 to 2025.

It is funded by the World Bank and has been designed to address most of these challenges, especially, in the targeted flood-prone vulnerable communities in the Odaw basin.

The goal of the project is to improve flood risk and solid waste management in the Odaw River basin of the Greater Accra region and improve access to basic infrastructure and services in the targeted communities within the Odaw River Basin.

Project stalling

Speaking on the same Show, a Drainage Engineer of the Project, Kodwo Keelson said the major challenge stalling the project is funding.

He also noted some persons have encroached on the space designated for a detention pond which will hold water temporarily.