The Post Flood Mitigation Task Force and the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) have clarified that Sunday’s enforcement exercise at Laboma Beach was not a demolition of the entire Laboma community, but targeted specific structures obstructing the natural water retention basin of the Kpeshie Lagoon.
According to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Chairman of the Post Flood Mitigation Task Force, the exercise focused on structures that had been marked for removal to pave the way for the dredging of silted portions of the lagoon basin.
He explained that the affected area, which historically served as a water retention basin for water flowing downstream into the sea, had been heavily encroached upon through the destruction of vegetation, reclamation and the use of solid materials, including large boulders, to create foundations for physical structures.
“The exercise targeted marked structures that needed to be cleared to allow for the dredging of the silted areas that were within the water retention basin, which in the past, held water flowing down into the sea,” he said.
He stressed that several other structures and businesses operating within the Laboma area were not affected because they did not fall within the specific scope and mandate of the Task Force.
The exercise followed a directive issued by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council on August 6, 2026, after an inspection of the Laboma Beach enclave. Occupants within what was identified as a protected lagoon buffer zone were given 21 days to vacate.
The enforcement team also demolished a newly constructed wall along the Labadi-Teshie road, which authorities said was intended to block off an area where vegetation had been cleared and filling with solid materials was ongoing.
The Kpeshie Lagoon has been identified as a critical intervention point under the government’s post-flood mitigation programme, following years of illegal reclamation, sand filling and uncontrolled development that have reduced its capacity to retain floodwaters.
Authorities say the ongoing exercise is therefore intended to restore the natural drainage and water retention functions of the lagoon and reduce the risk of flooding in surrounding communities.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭