President John Dramani Mahama has established a high-level Anti-Flood Taskforce to combat Ghana’s recurring flooding crisis, particularly in Accra and other flood-prone regions. Chaired by Deputy Chief of Staff Stanislav Xoese Dogbe, the taskforce includes key officials such as Minister for Water Resources, Works & Housing Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Local Government Ahmed Ibrahim, National Security Coordinator DCOP Abdul Osman Razak, and Deputy Director General of NADMO Teddy Addi.
The team is tasked with assessing flood-prone areas, implementing immediate mitigation measures, and formulating long-term solutions to prevent the devastating impact of floods.
In response to the increasing threat of urban flooding, the Anti-Flood Taskforce has commenced operations with a helicopter reconnaissance mission to assess high-risk flood areas, including Weija, the Sakumo Ramsar site, the Tema Fishing Harbour, and other critical locations. The aerial recce was conducted in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces and the Hydrological Department, providing a comprehensive view of drainage challenges and structural weaknesses in flood-prone areas.
Speaking after the helicopter tour, Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling the issue decisively. He stressed that beyond short-term interventions such as desilting drains and clearing blocked waterways, the government would take stricter enforcement actions to prevent illegal construction on waterways and floodplains. He also disclosed that the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, in collaboration with local government authorities, had been mobilized to begin desilting efforts immediately.
Brigadier General Richard Kinney, Commander of the Engineers Brigade of the Ghana Armed Forces, highlighted specific problem areas observed during the aerial reconnaissance mission.
- At Sakumono, small culverts and improper drainage structures were pushing seawater back into the lagoon, exacerbating flooding risks.
- At Tema Fishing Harbour, a controlled sea outlet was found to be ineffective due to sandbanks blocking the flow of excess inland water, creating yearly flooding concerns.
- The Weija area, where unchecked urban expansion has seen houses built in low-lying areas, continues to face severe flooding whenever the Weija Dam is opened or during heavy rains.
- In Achimota, overloaded storm drains and collapsed sections of drainage infrastructure were reducing water flow, causing frequent overflows and flooding.
Brigadier General Kinney emphasized that addressing these issues would require engineering solutions, stricter urban planning enforcement, and a long-term drainage improvement strategy.
Immediate Actions and Future Plans
The Minister for Water Resources, Works & Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, revealed that desilting efforts would commence immediately, particularly in critical areas such as the heavily silted Odaw River, a major contributor to Accra’s flood problems.
Local Government Minister Ahmed Ibrahim also underscored the role of human activities in worsening flooding, citing illegal structures, poor waste disposal, and blocked waterways as major challenges. He assured the public that the taskforce’s efforts would be extended beyond Accra to other flood-prone regions.
Meanwhile, officials from the Hydrological Department emphasized the urgent need for both short-term and long-term flood prevention strategies. While permanent solutions such as expanding and reinforcing drainage systems are being considered, they stressed that immediate maintenance efforts, including deepening and clearing drains, must be prioritized before the rainy season sets in.
As part of the next phase, the taskforce plans to conduct a road reconnaissance mission to complement the aerial assessment and provide detailed, on-ground data for targeted interventions.
With floods posing a recurring national crisis, the Mahama administration’s decision to establish the Anti-Flood Taskforce and deploy helicopter reconnaissance missions signals a proactive approach to disaster prevention. The coming weeks will be crucial as the taskforce rolls out urgent interventions to mitigate the risk of flooding and safeguard communities.
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