Accra: The National Flood Mitigation Task Force has initiated a systematic operation to dredge, desilt, and dismantle illegal structures along waterways across various parts of Accra. This move is part of an extensive campaign aimed at mitigating flooding and revitalizing the city's drainage infrastructure.
According to Ghana News Agency, the task force is spearheaded by Mr. Stan Dogbe, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at the Presidency. The team also includes Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, alongside Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, Director-General of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces and Coordinator of the National Flood Mitigation Task Force. The ongoing exercise involves the removal of unauthorized constructions within waterways and drainage systems, the demolition of poorly constructed bridges that impede water flow, and the cleaning of silted dams and drains.
The operations commenced in locations such as New England, behind Airport Hills and Mayfair Garden Estates, and extended to the Tesa Dam in East Legon and Oyarifa. At the Tesa Dam, near Boundary Road in East Legon, the task force demolished unauthorized structures along the dam's banks, where encroachment had notably narrowed the natural waterway.
Officials highlighted that some developers had erected illegal retaining walls and other constructions, while indiscriminate waste dumping and squatter activities had led to severe siltation of the reservoir and drainage channels, exacerbating flood risks in the area. Prior to the demolition, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Osei Amponsah, Commanding Officer of the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, addressed affected residents, explaining the operation's objectives and urging cooperation. Residents were given time to remove personal belongings before demolition commenced.
Post-demolition, dredging of the Tesa Dam began immediately to restore its water storage capacity and enhance water flow. The operation is anticipated to mitigate flood risks in areas such as the Motorway, East Legon, and surrounding communities. The Tesa Dam functions as a crucial flood-retention basin, temporarily storing stormwater during heavy rain and gradually releasing it into the drainage network. Authorities noted that years of siltation, encroachment, and waste disposal had significantly diminished the dam's efficiency.
In discussions with journalists, Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah emphasized that illegal developments had severely hindered the natural water flow. '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,' he stated. 'Since the channel is blocked, the area cannot take in enough water. The water backs up, causing the surrounding communities to flood.'
He further stated that the initiative would extend beyond demolition to maintain free waterways in the future. '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.'
Mr. Adjei announced that President John Dramani Mahama had instructed that desilting and dredging of drains become a continuous nationwide effort. '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,' he stated.
The Tesa Dam initiative follows similar enforcement actions by the task force in Oyarifa and around the Mayfair Gardens. At Oyarifa, a developer had constructed a block of apartments directly over a natural waterway, obstructing its flow. Alongside another developer, the watercourse had been diverted, disrupting the natural drainage system and increasing the area's flood risk. The task force demolished these obstructions and other improperly located structures to restore the channel and improve water flow.
Authorities assert that the exercise is designed to restore the natural drainage system and reduce flood risks in the area. The Flood Mitigation Task Force is committed to a nationwide flood mitigation effort aimed at restoring waterway integrity, enhancing stormwater drainage, and preventing a recurrence of recent flooding incidents across the Greater Accra region. The team aims to clear, desilt, and revitalize identified channels, waterways, dams, and drains in these initial locations before progressing to phase two, which will address challenges in Weija, Mallam, and the Laboma area.