Former Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman South, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, says squatters and alleged criminal elements occupying project sites are delaying key flood mitigation works under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) programme.

Speaking on Citi FM's Eyewitness News on June 10, 2026, he said Parliament's Local Government and Rural Development Committee met with officials from the Ministry and the World Bank following concerns about delays in the programme.

According to him, the committee was informed that some project sites have been taken over by squatters, making it difficult for contractors and implementing agencies to access the areas and continue work. He claimed some of the occupants were armed with offensive weapons and had confronted officials attempting to work on the sites.

Mr. Korsah stressed that funding for the GARID programme has already been provided by the World Bank and that the delays are not due to financial constraints but challenges in accessing encroached project locations.

He questioned why state authorities had been unable to clear the affected areas to allow the flood control projects to proceed, despite ongoing flooding in parts of the country.

The GARID programme, supported by the World Bank, was launched to improve flood risk management and strengthen resilience in flood-prone communities across the Greater Accra Region.