The Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has directed the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) to commence the ecological restoration of reclaimed sections of the Kpeshie Lagoon following the removal of illegal structures within the wetland’s protected buffer zone.
The restoration exercise will be undertaken in collaboration with the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), with plans to plant coconut and other suitable tree species and introduce appropriate environmental safeguards to help restore the fragile ecosystem.
Mr Dogbe issued the directive at Laboma following a demolition exercise carried out by the Post Flood Mitigation Task Force as part of ongoing efforts to restore flood-control infrastructure and protect critical water retention areas across the Greater Accra Region.
He stressed that the exercise should go beyond the demolition and removal of illegal structures, insisting that the ultimate goal must be to return the reclaimed sections of the lagoon to their natural state.
According to him, restoring the wetland would help strengthen the lagoon’s capacity to retain floodwaters while preventing further encroachment and development within the protected area.
The Kpeshie Lagoon is considered one of Accra’s critical flood intervention points. However, years of reclamation, sand filling and development have significantly reduced its natural capacity to hold and manage stormwater.
Following the clearance exercise, authorities are expected to undertake debris removal, vegetation restoration and other environmental protection measures to rehabilitate the affected areas.
The restoration forms part of broader efforts by the authorities to strengthen Accra’s flood resilience by protecting wetlands, waterways and other natural drainage systems from human activities.
The authorities are also expected to sustain monitoring of the restored areas to prevent renewed encroachment and ensure that the ecological rehabilitation efforts are preserved.
