Government is set to demolish several illegal structures following inspections by the Flood Mitigation Task Force in parts of the Greater Accra Region after the recent floods.
The inspections, conducted at Tesa, Oyarifa and Damfa, uncovered widespread encroachment on critical flood control infrastructure, including retention ponds and natural water channels, which officials say have increased the vulnerability of surrounding communities to flooding.
At the Tesa Dam near the East Legon Boundary Road, the Task Force found that the water retention facility had been significantly reduced in size due to encroachment. Officials also found that some individuals had constructed illegal retention walls that interfered with the dam’s natural function. The unauthorized structures have been marked for demolition.
In Oyarifa, the Task Force observed that several developments had obstructed natural water channels and altered drainage patterns.
At one location, a developer had constructed apartment buildings over a watercourse, while nearby developments had redirected the natural flow of water uphill. The team also visited the New York area of Oyarifa, where it found a retention wall under construction to divert the natural flow of water. The structures have been earmarked for demolition to restore natural drainage pathways.
The Task Force also inspected a critical retention pond at Damfa, where officials found that encroachment had significantly reduced the facility’s capacity to contain runoff from the Aburi Hills.
The inspection team was led by Brigadier General Foster Okae Yeboah, coordinator of the Flood Mitigation Task Force, and included Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) Stanislav Dogbe, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing Kenneth Adjei, and the Commander of the 15 Engineer Brigade, Brigadier General Richard Kinney.
Speaking to the media during the inspection, Brigadier General Foster Okae Yeboah said the mitigation efforts are focused on dredging and desilting discharge areas such as the Kpeshie.
“We can’t stop the rain. So going forward we‘ll tackle the discharge area, which is Kpeshie, and we’ll come upstream and tackle some water retention areas that people have built on,” he added.
To complement the engineering solutions, Kenneth Adjei, the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, said efforts will be directed at addressing human activities that contribute to flooding including building on waterways
“What I mean by the behavioural part is where people have built in waterways. The last time, during the press conference, the General mentioned that in places that we need to demolish, we have to.”
He further called on Ghanaians to support the government in addressing these efforts, referencing the devastation caused by the recent floods.
“We all know what we witnessed some few weeks ago. We don’t want it to happen again, so when we get there, we need the full support of Ghanaians,” he said.
Government says the inspections form part of broader post-flood mitigation measures aimed at restoring drainage infrastructure, reducing flood risks, and protecting lives and property.
