Bantama Member of Parliament and former Works and Housing Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has condemned government’s handling of flood control projects, warning that stalled interventions are worsening Ghana’s deadly flood crisis which has already claimed 12 lives and displaced over 38,000 people.
In a statement in Parliament on Tuesday, he questioned why major drainage and flood mitigation works initiated under the previous administration have slowed or completely stalled, leaving communities exposed to recurring devastation.
Asenso-Boakye revealed that the former Akufo-Addo administration invested over GH¢540 million into the National Flood Control Programme (2018–2024), funding major projects including the Odaw dredging works, Achimota-Abofu Drain, South Kaneshie Drain and the Busia Highway drainage system.
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He said several of these strategic projects were well underway and had even benefited from an operational flood early warning system in Accra.
However, he expressed concern that many of these interventions have now reportedly stalled, describing them as critical national infrastructure, not ordinary projects.
The MP also raised alarm over the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, describing it as a key World Bank-backed initiative designed to tackle Accra’s flooding challenge.
According to him, more than $200 million in World Bank funds remains unused, raising questions about project continuity and implementation efficiency.
Asenso-Boakye further disclosed that flood control projects are being hindered by encroachment on project sites, with some areas allegedly occupied by individuals described as armed squatters, preventing contractors from accessing critical drainage corridors.
He questioned why state security had not been effectively deployed to clear such obstructions to allow national projects to proceed.
Asenso-Boakye called for a one-week national flood emergency preparedness exercise, urging government agencies to intensify desilting, clear drains and deploy emergency teams ahead of further rainfall.
He also proposed the creation of a dedicated Drainage Fund financed through the Road Maintenance Fund to ensure sustained investment in flood infrastructure.
The MP warned that Ghana risks normalising annual flooding if urgent reforms are not implemented, stressing that the country already has the technical knowledge and funding mechanisms but lacks consistent political commitment.
He called for stronger enforcement of planning laws, improved sanitation management and sustained investment in drainage infrastructure.