16% of Accra's drainage buffer zones lost to encroachment - GARID

GARID revealed on Friday, July 3, that 16% of Accra's drainage buffer zones have been lost to encroachment. The Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project's new assessment found that approximately 16% of the mandatory 25-metre drainage buffer zones had been encroached upon by unauthorised developments. This study examined developments within designated drainage corridors across 16 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Kojo Ohene Safo, GARID Project Coordinator and member of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, explained that the exercise analysed changes in development between 2022 and 2026 using geospatial data and field assessments. He stated that the review focused on the legally required 25-metre setback on both sides of major drains, a planning requirement intended to preserve waterways, facilitate maintenance works, and reduce flood risks. The assessment indicated that the number of structures erected within protected drainage corridors continues to rise across many parts of the region despite existing planning regulations. Mr. Ohene Safo noted that while some localities recorded little or no additional encroachment, the broader trend points to increasing pressure on drainage infrastructure. He cited Ablekuma Central as an exception, where six structures identified within the protected buffer zone in 2022 remained unchanged during the latest assessment period.