Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has directed the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) to commence the ecological restoration of reclaimed sections of the Kpeshie Lagoon following the removal of illegal structures within the wetland’s protected buffer zone.
The restoration programme is expected to involve the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), with plans to plant coconut and other suitable tree species as part of efforts to rehabilitate the degraded wetland and restore its ecological functions.
Mr Dogbe issued the directive at Laboma following a demolition exercise undertaken by the Post Flood Mitigation Task Force as part of ongoing government measures to restore flood-control infrastructure and protect critical water-retention areas across the Greater Accra Region.
He stressed that the exercise was not merely about clearing illegal structures, but about reclaiming and restoring the affected portions of the lagoon to their natural state.
According to him, restoring the wetland will help improve its capacity to retain excess water during heavy rainfall while creating a stronger environmental buffer against future flooding and preventing renewed encroachment.
The Kpeshie Lagoon is considered one of Accra’s important flood-control points. However, years of reclamation, sand filling and unregulated development have significantly reduced portions of its natural water-holding capacity, contributing to increased flood risks in surrounding communities.
Following the removal of the structures, authorities are expected to proceed with the removal of demolition debris, restoration of vegetation and the implementation of measures to ensure sustained protection of the reclaimed areas.
The involvement of the Forestry Commission and the EPA is expected to provide the technical and environmental safeguards required to ensure that the restoration is carried out in a manner that supports the long-term recovery of the fragile lagoon ecosystem.
The government has maintained that the restoration of wetlands and waterways forms part of its broader strategy to address perennial flooding in Greater Accra by protecting natural drainage systems and preventing development within environmentally sensitive areas.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
