Nearly one-sixth of the legally protected buffer zones along major drainage channels in parts of the Greater Accra Region has been encroached upon by unauthorised developments, according to a new assessment by the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project.
The findings come in the aftermath of the recent floods that claimed lives and displaced thousands of residents, further highlighting the impact of uncontrolled development on flood management and urban resilience.
The assessment, which examined developments within designated drainage corridors across 16 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), found that approximately 16 per cent of the mandatory 25-metre drainage buffer zones had been occupied by illegal structures.
Presenting the findings on Friday, July 3, GARID Project Coordinator and member of the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, Kojo Ohene Safo, said the study analysed development patterns between 2022 and 2026 using geospatial data and field assessments.
According to him, the review focused on the legally required 25-metre setback on both sides of major drainage channels, a planning requirement intended to preserve waterways, facilitate maintenance and reduce flood risks.
The assessment found a steady increase in the number of structures built within protected drainage corridors across many parts of the Greater Accra Region despite existing planning regulations.
Mr. Ohene Safo noted that although a few localities recorded little or no additional encroachment, the overall trend showed increasing pressure on the region’s drainage infrastructure. He cited Ablekuma Central as one of the few exceptions, where the six structures identified within the protected buffer zone in 2022 remained unchanged during the latest assessment period.
However, most of the assemblies surveyed recorded significant increases in illegal developments.
In Ayawaso Central, the number of structures within drainage buffer zones increased from 793 in 2022 to 801 in 2026, while Ayawaso East recorded a sharper rise from 337 to 494 over the same period.
Ga Central also experienced a substantial increase, with 54 additional structures erected between 2023 and 2025, bringing the total number of encroaching structures within the assessed corridor to 2,329.
Other assemblies recorded similar trends. In Krowor, structures increased from 178 to 295, while Okai Koi North recorded an increase from 596 to 729. Ablekuma West experienced one of the largest increases, with the number of structures rising from 904 to 1,293.
The assessment further showed that Ga North recorded a dramatic increase from 1,049 to 2,261 structures, while Ga South rose from 746 to 871. In La Dade-Kotopon, encroaching structures increased from 544 to 638, while Adentan recorded an increase from 171 to 214.
Mr. Ohene Safo disclosed that a total of 10,497 structures had been identified within protected drainage buffer zones across the 16 sampled assemblies.
He warned that continued encroachment was significantly reducing the capacity of drainage systems to channel stormwater during periods of heavy rainfall.
“And so, when we have the volume of rain that we do, the water doesn’t have a natural path. That will inevitably impact people; it will affect them,” he said.
The GARID assessment comes as government intensifies efforts to address recurring flooding following the recent torrential rains that inundated large sections of Accra and other parts of the country.
Urban planning experts have consistently identified encroachment on waterways, indiscriminate construction within drainage reserves, poor waste management and weak enforcement of planning regulations as key drivers of recurrent flooding in the capital.
The findings are expected to support the work of the government’s Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, which is reviewing engineering, planning and enforcement measures aimed at restoring drainage corridors and strengthening flood resilience across the Greater Accra Region.
Officials say achieving these objectives will require stronger collaboration among local authorities, planning institutions and enforcement agencies to curb further encroachment and safeguard critical drainage infrastructure.
