Flood mitigation task force begins phased dredging, demolition exercise across Accra.

The Flood Mitigation Task Force has commenced a phased exercise involving the dredging, desilting, and demolition of illegal structures across several flood-prone areas in Accra, as part of ongoing post-flood mitigation measures directed by the President.

The first phase covered New England (behind Airport Hills), Mayfair Garden Estates, the Tesa Dam enclave near Boundary Road in East Legon, and Oyarifa.

The exercise was led by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe; the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei; and Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, Coordinator of the National Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force. The team engaged residents at each site to explain the rationale and expected impact of the exercise, and occupants were allowed to retrieve their belongings before demolitions began.

At the Tesa Dam, structures built along the banks as encroachments were pulled down. Dredging of the dam, which serves as a critical retention basin, began immediately afterwards to clear heavy silt deposits, restore its storage capacity, and improve water flow during downpours. This is expected to significantly reduce flood risk along the Motorway, East Legon, and surrounding communities.

In Oyarifa, the task force demolished walls and properties a developer had built directly over a natural waterway, along with other structures obstructing the drainage channel.

At New England, behind the Mayfair Estates, the team removed a concrete-reinforced bridge built by developers and residents that had blocked a natural waterway. Dredging of the channel is currently underway to restore its capacity, and additional encroaching structures are expected to be demolished.

The next phase of the exercise will extend to Weija, Mallam, and the Laboma area.

Speaking to the press, Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah said the operation would be rolled out to all flood-prone communities nationwide.

"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," he said. "We will also ask the assemblies to monitor the area so that whenever anyone attempts to encroach on it, immediate action is taken."

Minister Adjei reiterated the President's directive that the exercise be sustained year-round.

"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," he said.

Other senior officials who accompanied the operations team included Deputy Chief of Staff at the Army Headquarters, Major General Annan Glover, and the Commander of the 14 Engineer Brigade, Brigadier General Richard Kinny.