The Ghana Armed Forces has significantly intensified its sanitation, dredging, and environmental restoration operations across the Greater Accra Region. This comprehensive effort aims to improve drainage systems and reclaim vital flood retention infrastructure.
Brigadier General Richard Kinney, Commander of the 15 Engineer Brigade, confirmed the military's coordinated program. This initiative involves dredging retention ponds, demolishing illegal structures, removing waste materials, and restoring degraded water bodies. These actions are crucial for several parts of the capital.
Greater Accra consistently experiences severe flooding during heavy rainfall. This problem stems from inadequate drainage, indiscriminate waste disposal, and silted drains. Retention ponds and lagoons are essential for managing floodwaters by temporarily storing excess runoff. However, urban expansion, illegal dumping, and unauthorized developments have severely compromised these facilities.
Brigadier General Kinney made this disclosure on Wednesday during the Government Accountability Series. He highlighted the urgent need for these interventions given the region's persistent flood challenges. Past efforts by government agencies and local assemblies have included periodic dredging, but the scale of the problem requires a more sustained and coordinated approach.
The Army has already completed demolition works and begun dredging at the Tessa Dam on Boundary Road. This work will enhance water retention capacity and drainage flow. Dredging operations also finished at Oyarifa, with equipment moving to Abokobi and Teiman for similar pond restoration. The exercise will later reach Damfa in the La Nkwatanang Madina Municipality, targeting another major retention pond.
Significant attention is currently focused on the Lafa Basin retention pond at Mallam. The Army is removing large quantities of solid waste from this facility. Portions of the retention area were filled, covered, and compacted, allegedly for conversion to other uses. Excavation works have started, and the waste will be transported to Nsawam for proper disposal.
This operation involves collaboration with the Jospong Group of Companies through Zoomlion Ghana Limited. Zoomlion's specialized equipment supports the exercise. To ensure efficiency, the operation will run 24 hours a day. Excavation and stockpiling will occur during the day, with haulage operations at night to leverage lighter traffic. About 20 heavy-duty trucks will transport excavated materials from Mallam to Nsawam.
Beyond Mallam, the sanitation campaign will extend to the Kpeshie Lagoon area at Laboma. Portions of this lagoon have reportedly been filled with waste and encroached upon. The intervention will remove deposited materials and restore affected wetland sections. Efforts will also support re-establishing mangrove vegetation in collaboration with state agencies. The next phase will cover the Sango Lagoon between Teshie and Nungua, another important retention area.
Brigadier General Kinney emphasized that these interventions are part of a broader effort. This effort aims to protect drainage infrastructure, reclaim ecologically sensitive areas, and improve environmental sanitation across the Greater Accra Region. Authorities have issued notices to occupants in affected locations and are enforcing measures where necessary. Individuals seeking compensation for affected properties must provide documentation to establish ownership claims. So far, no such documents have been presented to the authorities.