Deputy Chief of Staff directs wetland rehabilitation following kpeshie lagoon area clearance

Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Xoese Dogbe has ordered the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council to initiate the ecological restoration of areas surrounding the Kpeshie Lagoon, following the removal of structures within its protected buffer zone. The restoration efforts are set to involve the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority, who will work together to plant coconut trees and other suitable vegetation, while the EPA provides essential environmental guidance to restore the delicate ecosystem.

This directive came into effect on Sunday, following a Post Flood Mitigation Task Force exercise that demolished illegal structures within the protected buffer zone as part of ongoing flood prevention measures in the Greater Accra Region. Dogbe explained to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, that the restoration mission aims to safeguard the reclaimed sections of the lagoon from future encroachment and restore the wetland's natural capacity to retain floodwaters.

The task force and the Regional Security Council's actions target the previously known water retention basin along the Kpeshie, which has been cleared, silted, and had physical structures erected over the past few years. After the debris clearance following Sunday's exercise, the team will collaborate with the REGSEC and EPA to plant trees in the secured area, enhancing its appeal for leisure and holiday activities.

Dogbe emphasized that the ultimate goal is to revert the area to its natural state, preventing the reclaimed land from being left exposed.

The Kpeshie Lagoon has been recognized as a crucial flood intervention point in Accra due to years of illegal reclamation, sand filling, and commercial development, which diminished its water-holding capacity and obstructed the natural water flow to and from the sea. The Post Flood Mitigation Task Force has recently conducted dredging, demolition, and retention basin restoration works at various flood-prone locations, including Tesa Dam, the Lafa Water Retention Basin, and the Kpeshie Lagoon.

Authorities revealed that the subsequent phase will concentrate on restoring the wetland landscape through vegetation and ongoing environmental protection measures to bolster the lagoon's resilience against future flooding threats.