A major operation has commenced to reclaim the Lafa water retention basin at Mallam as part of efforts to mitigate perennial flooding in Mallam, Weija, Dansoman and surrounding communities.
The exercise follows years of illegal dumping of solid waste and encroachment on the basin, which has severely reduced its capacity to retain and channel stormwater. The situation contributed to devastating flooding following the torrential rains of June 29.
The operation is being carried out by the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces under the Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force, led by the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe.
Using heavy-duty equipment, the military engineering teams are breaking up tonnes of compacted waste, dredging the basin and scooping debris for haulage to a designated landfill site at Nsawam.
The exercise also involves the demolition of illegal structures and buildings constructed within the water reserve, as well as the construction of protective embankments to safeguard the basin against future encroachment.
The Head of Drainage at the Ghana Hydrological Authority, Ing. Richard Kofi Amekor, described the operation as challenging, explaining that years of deliberate dumping of solid waste, boulders and laterite had heavily silted the basin.
According to him, the silting has contributed significantly to perennial flooding along the Mallam-Gbawe and Awoshie-Kasoa highway corridor and parts of Dansoman.
He explained that the Lafa watercourse originates from Mallam-Gbawe Zero and passes through Santa Maria, Atieku, Pallas Town, Alhaji Tabora and McCarthy Hill before reaching the basin and eventually discharging into the sea.
However, the heavy accumulation of waste prevented rainwater from properly entering the basin during the June 29 downpour, resulting in backwater flooding that affected communities including Blue Lagoon and the Dansoman enclave.
Ing. Amekor said successfully completing the excavation would restore the natural capacity of the basin to accommodate large volumes of water during heavy rainfall.
He cautioned, however, that the intervention may not completely eliminate flooding but would significantly reduce its impact.
He further called for the removal of all illegal structures within the basin, noting that such developments have reduced the basin’s capacity. He said the Ghana Hydrological Authority would work with the Weija-Gbawe Municipality to secure the banks and ensure continued monitoring.
Brigadier General Richard Kinney, Commander of the 14 Engineer Brigade of the Ghana Armed Forces, said the immediate task is to loosen the compacted waste material to facilitate its removal.
He explained that waste dumped over the years had been capped with laterite and compacted in an apparent attempt to secure portions of the land for sale. The waste will be loosened, evacuated and transported at night to the final disposal site at Nsawam.
Brig. Gen. Kinney said the operation could take months to complete and warned residents around the basin against further dumping, urging those engaged in illegal activities to stop immediately.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, Director General of Joint Operations at the Ghana Armed Forces and Coordinator of the Flood Mitigation Works, said flood mitigation operations are continuing at Oyarifa, East Legon and the Kpeshie Lagoon area.
He disclosed that work would begin in the following week at the Kpeshie enclave and Laboma Beach to open the channel into the sea.
According to him, the overall objective is to mitigate the impact of flooding in Accra, and he urged residents to cooperate with the task force.
Brig. Gen. Okae-Yeboah also announced that funding and equipment are available for the exercise, following President Mahama’s pledge to support the flood mitigation efforts.
He, however, stressed that government cannot undertake the work alone and appealed to private-sector actors to support the exercise.
Work begins to reclaim Lafa basin to curb flooding in Mallam
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
