10/3/2025
The completion of the Nima Paloma Storm Drain is expected to stall for several more months, according to officials of the Greater Accra Resilience and Integrated Development (GARID) Project.
The project, funded by the World Bank and launched by the government in June 2024, was initially scheduled for completion within 18 months to help mitigate flooding in the capital.
However, residents within the Odaw River Basin-including communities such as Adabraka and Asylum Down-have raised concerns about potential floods due to the slow pace of work. While progress is visible around Circle, residents along other sections of the drain fear being left behind and worry the situation could worsen if the rains persist.
Get ready for another rainy season full of dread: the crucial Nima-Paloma storm drain project, meant to save communities from annual flooding, has officially stalled and will miss its deadline. You can hear the sigh of frustration all the way from Asylum Down.
Officials from the World Bank-funded Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project have admitted the initial 18-month completion target is now “practically impossible.” This is the 10-metre wide, 3-metre deep channel intended to channel the Odaw River’s tributaries and stop the area from swallowing cars and homes.
The reasons for the delay are familiar, yet frustrating. First, during the major rainy season, contractors spent weeks just pumping out the water and shoveling out mountains of stinking, solid waste that had been washed in, eating up valuable construction time (Per GARID Communication Specialist Philip Dornyo, October 2, 2025).
But that’s not the only headache. The compensation process for affected property owners, which is mandatory under World Bank rules, also dragged on for months. Then, the contractor asked for more working space, initiating another lengthy, three-month approval process for site expansion.
And… while work is visible near Circle, residents in other areas along the Odaw River Basin are raising a hue and cry. They are concerned that the slow pace will leave them exposed, risking not only floods but also health issues from the pungent, stagnant water.
The contractor is now expected to formally request a time extension. Meanwhile, residents still must cope with the ever-present threat of a downpour washing away their livelihoods. After sinking so much effort and World Bank money into this project, will Accra ever truly be flood-proofed?
This video provides context on local demands for quicker completion of the Nima-Paloma Storm Drain project: Nima-Paloma Storm Drain: Residents Demand Faster Completion of Project Works
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-KzT8tC2zo
Source: https://citinewsroom.com/2025/10/garid-nima-paloma-storm-drain-cant-be-completed-in-18-months/