Minority Urges Forensic Audit Amid Suspicions Over World Bank’s GARID Project

Concerns have been raised by the Minority in Parliament regarding the handling of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID) funded by the World Bank, prompting calls for a thorough forensic audit to investigate possible irregularities.

Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, the Member of Parliament for Ho West, emphasized the need for transparency in the project’s financial management, citing significant expenditure without adequate accountability.

The approved additional $150 million loan for the GARID project has come under scrutiny for its allocation and execution. Key discrepancies in the project’s implementation have come to light, with Bedzrah highlighting the absence of structured phases in the project’s development.

This has led to suspicions of mismanagement and overlooking critical aspects of the project’s planning.

Expressing concerns over the high percentage of additional work being carried out without proper justification, Bedzrah and the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, have separately requested forensic audits to shed light on the operations of the World Bank’s

Ghana office and the GARID project. Bedzrah emphasized the necessity for integrity and verification in the project’s execution, stressing the importance of phased implementation to ensure efficiency and accountability.

The Minority’s call for a forensic audit underscores the determination to uphold transparency and address any potential discrepancies in the GARID project’s management.