The government’s Flood Mitigation Task Force has intensified efforts to tackle perennial flooding in Accra with the demolition of structures illegally constructed on waterways and the dredging of drains and channels in flood-prone communities.
The exercise, led by the Head of the Flood Mitigation Task Force, Brigadier General Forster Okae Yeboah, forms part of a broader strategy to restore the free flow of stormwater ahead of the peak rainy season and reduce the impact of flooding on communities.
One of the key areas targeted is the Tesa Dam along Boundary Road at East Legon, where demolition teams have begun removing structures built along the banks of the dam. The Task Force says years of unchecked encroachment have narrowed the natural watercourse, restricting the movement of water and increasing the risk of flooding in surrounding communities during heavy rainfall.
In addition to the demolition exercise, engineering teams are dredging drains and desilting water channels to increase their capacity and improve the discharge of stormwater.
Speaking during the operation on Friday, July 24, Brigadier General Okae Yeboah said the intervention was aimed at addressing the underlying causes of flooding rather than merely responding to its effects.
He explained that removing structures obstructing waterways and clearing silted drains would help restore the natural flow of water and reduce the vulnerability of communities to flooding.
Brigadier General Okae Yeboah added that the exercise would not be limited to the Tesa Dam area, as similar operations are expected to be carried out in other flood-prone communities across the Greater Accra Region.
The latest intervention forms part of the government’s wider flood prevention programme, which combines enforcement against illegal developments with engineering works to improve drainage infrastructure and protect lives and property during the rainy season.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
