Flood Mitigation Task Force begins demolition of structures on waterways in Accra

The Flood Mitigation Task Force has launched a major operation to demolish illegal structures and dredge silted drains and waterways across parts of Accra in an effort to reduce the risk of flooding following the recent devastation in the Greater Accra Region.

The exercise, which is being undertaken in phases, commenced on Friday at New England behind Airport Hills and the Mayfair Garden Estates before extending to the Tesa Dam along Boundary Road in East Legon and Oyarifa.

The operation is being led by the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, and the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, with support from personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces' Engineering Regiment.

At the Tesa Dam, the task force pulled down unauthorised retaining walls and other structures erected along the banks of the reservoir after officials determined that encroachment had significantly narrowed the natural water channel.

Authorities also attributed the reduced capacity of the dam to years of silt accumulation and indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste by squatters, which they said had weakened the reservoir's ability to retain stormwater.

Before the demolition exercise began, the Commanding Officer of the 48 Engineer Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Osei Amponsah, addressed affected residents and explained the reasons for the operation. Residents were given the opportunity to remove their belongings before heavy machinery moved in to clear the structures.

Following the demolition, engineering teams immediately began dredging the reservoir to remove accumulated silt and restore the dam's capacity. The Tesa Dam serves as a key retention basin for stormwater flowing from the Motorway and surrounding communities.

Speaking to journalists, the Coordinator of the Flood Mitigation Task Force, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, blamed the flooding challenges on human activities, particularly illegal construction along waterways.

“The channel has been narrowed because people have built in this area. Water cannot flow freely to the holding area downstream. Since the channel is blocked, water backs up and floods the communities,” he said.

He noted that the operation goes beyond demolitions, explaining that the task force would clear debris, dredge affected waterways and establish buffer zones to prevent future encroachment.

“We will clear the debris, dredge the area, and create a buffer zone where no one will be allowed to build again. The assemblies will also be tasked to monitor and act immediately if anyone attempts to encroach,” Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah added.

Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources Kenneth Gilbert Adjei said the operation would be sustained under the directive of President John Dramani Mahama to permanently address flooding challenges.

“The President has directed that this should be an ongoing exercise. After the demolitions, we will continue dredging throughout the year so that whenever it rains, the water will have enough space. We will not allow the kind of flooding we recently experienced to happen again,” he stated.

The latest exercise follows similar operations carried out on Thursday at Oyarifa, where an apartment block constructed on a natural waterway was demolished, and at Mayfair Gardens, where a concrete bridge built by residents across a watercourse was removed.

According to the task force, work will continue to clear, desilt and restore all identified waterways within the current operational areas before moving to the second phase, which will cover Weija, Mallam and the Laboma enclave.