Work begins to reclaim Lafa basin to curb flooding in Mallam, Weija, and surrounding areas.
The ongoing exercise is being led by the Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force, headed by the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe.
A major operation has begun to clear the Lafa water retention basin in Mallam, aiming to reduce flooding in Mallam, Weija, and nearby regions. The Ghana Armed Forces' 48 Engineer Regiment is spearheading the effort, utilizing heavy machinery to demolish illegal structures, dismantle solid waste and debris, and reinforce embankments.
The initiative, led by the Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force under Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Xoese Dogbe, is expected to span several weeks and is being directed by Head of Drainage Ing. Richard Kofi Amekor. Ing. Amekor highlighted the immense difficulty of the task, emphasizing that years of illegal waste dumping and encroachment have severely silted the basin, exacerbating flooding.
The Lafa basin originates from Mallam-Gbawe Zero, with water flowing through Santa Maria, Atieku, Pallas Town, Alhaji Tabora, McCarthy Hill, and eventually discharging into the sea. The topography, with hills upstream, exacerbates the problem, causing backwater to flood the affected communities. Once completed, the basin will be restored to its natural state, capable of accommodating increased inflow after heavy rainfall.
The operation's success will mitigate the devastating floods witnessed following torrential rains on June 29, potentially reducing their impact significantly. The Head of Drainage also recommended the immediate demolition of all illegal structures within the basin to preserve its capacity. The Ghana Armed Forces have secured the necessary equipment to execute the task, with a focus on loosening the waste material for easy haulage.
Brigadier General Richard Kinney assured that the clearing process, which will take months, will involve night evacuations to the final disposal site in Nsawam. The operation will commence at the Kpeshie enclave - Laboma beach area, aiming to open the channel into the sea and further mitigate the impact of floods in Accra. The President has honored his pledge, providing funds and equipment for the assignment, but government cannot do it alone, and they are grateful for the private sector's potential involvement.
Written by urgent.news from 3News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
