The natural vegetation strip along water bodies acts as a crucial barrier against the influx of nutrients and sediments. Consequently, the progressive degradation of the riparian vegetation around Banco Bay has led to the silting of the bed of this section of the Ebrié Lagoon. The primary objective of this study was to enhance the understanding of the quality of Banco Bay’s shores to identify priority intervention areas for potential re-vegetation efforts. To achieve this, a riparian quality index assessment protocol was applied. This involved delineating 200-meter-long and 10-meter-wide segments along the riparian vegetation strip. Within these sampling areas, a botanical survey was conducted to assign a coverage percentage to the different components of the riparian strip, allowing for the calculation of the riparian quality index. Data analysis revealed low floristic richness with 17 tree species, predominantly microphanerophytes and nanophanerophytes. The low IQBR values indicate a riparian zone in poor condition, with 92% of the segments classified as very low or low IQBR classes. Given the consequences of water silting, it is essential to use the results of this study as an awareness-raising tool for residents and decision-makers, encouraging collective action towards the re-vegetation of Banco Bay’s shores.