The Flood Mitigation Task Force has commenced a major phased exercise involving dredging, desilting and the demolition of illegal structures across key flood-prone areas in Accra as part of the government’s intensified efforts to prevent a recurrence of recent devastating floods.
The operation is being led by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Stan Xoese Dogbe, together with the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, and the Coordinator of the Flood Mitigation Task Force, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah.
The exercise, supported by personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, began at New England behind Airport Hills and Mayfair Gardens Estates before moving to the Tesa Dam in East Legon and Oyarifa.
The operation focuses on removing structures built within waterways, demolishing poorly engineered bridges that obstruct drainage, clearing illegally constructed retaining walls, and dredging heavily silted dams and drainage channels to restore their capacity.
At the Tesa Dam, adjacent to Boundary Road in East Legon, the task force demolished unauthorized structures erected along the banks of the reservoir after years of encroachment narrowed the natural waterway and reduced the dam’s flood retention capacity.
Authorities also cited indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste and other refuse by squatters around the dam as a major contributor to heavy siltation that has compromised the reservoir’s effectiveness in controlling floods.
Before demolition works commenced, the Commanding Officer of the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Osei Amponsah, addressed affected residents, explaining that the exercise was intended to restore the natural drainage system and reduce flooding.
Residents were given time to remove their belongings before demolition began.
Following the demolition, heavy equipment immediately started dredging operations at the Tesa Dam to remove accumulated silt and restore the reservoir’s storage capacity, enabling it to temporarily retain stormwater during heavy rains before gradually releasing it into the drainage network.
Speaking during the exercise, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah said illegal developments had severely disrupted the natural flow of water.
“The problem is that because people have built in this area, the channel has been narrowed. Water is therefore not able to flow freely to the holding area downstream, where it is supposed to be collected.
Since the channel is blocked, the area cannot take in enough water. The water backs up, causing the surrounding communities to flood.” He added that the exercise would not end with demolitions.
“After the demolition, we are going to clear the debris, dredge the area, and create a buffer zone where people will no longer be allowed to build. We will also ask the assemblies to monitor the area so that whenever anyone attempts to encroach on it, immediate action is taken.”
Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources Kenneth Gilbert Adjei said President John Dramani Mahama has directed that desilting and dredging of drains should become a continuous nationwide exercise rather than an occasional intervention.
“The President has directed that this should be an ongoing exercise. So, you are not just seeing us here today and that will be the end of it. After the demolitions, we will continue dredging throughout the year so that whenever it rains, the water will have enough space to collect. It will be a year-round exercise.
The President has directed that we ensure the kind of flooding we recently experienced is not repeated in our communities.”
The Tesa Dam operation follows similar enforcement activities undertaken by the task force in Oyarifa, where an apartment block constructed directly over a natural watercourse was demolished alongside other structures that had diverted the channel and increased flood risks.
At Mayfair Gardens Estates, the team removed a reinforced concrete bridge built by developers and residents that had obstructed a natural waterway. Dredging is currently underway to restore the channel’s carrying capacity, while additional encroaching structures are expected to be removed.
According to the Flood Mitigation Task Force, the nationwide operation seeks to restore the integrity of waterways, improve stormwater drainage systems and prevent future flooding in vulnerable communities.
The task force is currently concentrating on clearing, desilting and restoring major waterways, drains and dams at New England, Tesa Dam and Oyarifa before advancing to Phase Two, which will focus on Weija, Mallam and the Laboma area as government intensifies efforts to build a more resilient flood management system across the Greater Accra Region.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
