The Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project has disclosed that about 16% of the legally designated 25-metre drainage buffer zones across selected assemblies in the Greater Accra Region have been encroached upon, a situation it says is contributing to flooding.

Presenting the findings of a drainage buffer assessment on Friday, July 3, GARID Coordinator and member of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, Kojo Ohene Safo, said the study covered waterways in 16 assemblies and compared data collected between 2022 and 2026.

He said the assessment found a gradual increase in structures within protected drainage corridors across most of the assemblies.

According to the findings, Ablekuma Central recorded six structures within the buffer zone in 2022, with no additional encroachments identified during the latest assessment.

However, several other assemblies recorded increases. In Ayawaso Central, the number of structures rose from 793 in 2022 to 801 in 2026, while Ayawaso East increased from 337 to 494. Ga Central recorded an additional 54 structures between 2023 and 2025, bringing the total to 2,329.

The assessment also recorded increases in Krowor, from 178 to 295 structures; Okai Koi North, from 596 to 729; Ablekuma West, from 904 to 1,293; Ga North, from 1,049 to 2,261; and Ga South, from 746 to 871.

La Dade-Kotopon recorded an increase from 544 to 638 structures, while Adentan rose from 171 to 214.

Mr Ohene Safo said the assessment identified a total of 10,497 structures within drainage buffer zones across the sampled assemblies, noting that the encroachments breach planning regulations intended to protect waterways.

He said the loss of drainage buffers limits the natural flow of stormwater during heavy rainfall, increasing the likelihood of flooding in affected areas.