Military begins reclamation of Lafa basin to tackle flooding in Mallam, Weija, Dansoman
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Ghana's military has begun reclaiming the Lafa water retention basin to combat flooding in Accra's western areas.
- The operation involves removing waste, silt, and illegal structures that have reduced the basin's capacity.
- Similar flood mitigation works are underway in other parts of Accra, including Oyarifa and East Legon.
The Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a critical operation to reclaim the Lafa water retention basin, a move aimed at mitigating severe flooding in the Mallam, Weija, and Dansoman communities. The 48 Engineer Regiment is leading the effort to clear years of accumulated solid waste, silt, and illegal structures that have severely compromised the basin's water-holding capacity.
This extensive exercise includes dredging the basin, transporting the excavated waste to a designated landfill, demolishing unauthorized structures within the water reserve, and constructing protective embankments. The intervention is coordinated by the Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force and forms part of a broader national strategy to restore Accra's waterways and drainage channels, particularly after the devastating June 29 floods.
Government resources and equipment have been deployed for the Lafa basin reclamation. Concurrently, similar flood mitigation works are progressing in other affected areas, including Oyarifa, East Legon, and the Kpeshie Lagoon. The Task Force is appealing to the public for cooperation and urging residents to cease activities that obstruct waterways and hinder flood prevention efforts.
Originally published by Ghanaian Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.