Ghana Armed Forces to Lead Nationwide Flood Cleanup; Illegal Structures on Waterways Face Demolition
Military-led operation to clear blocked drains, restore damaged infrastructure and strengthen flood resilience after the June 29 floods.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will lead a nationwide post-flood recovery and cleanup exercise following the devastating floods of June 29, with authorities warning that structures illegally erected on waterways and drainage reservations could be demolished as part of the operation.
Addressing the nation on Friday, July 3, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah announced that the government has tasked the military with coordinating the nationwide exercise under a broader flood mitigation programme.
He explained that military personnel, engineers and heavy-duty equipment will be deployed across affected areas to clear drains, rivers, streams and other waterways clogged with silt, debris, fallen trees and collapsed structures to improve water flow and reduce future flooding.
The operation will also focus on repairing roads and other critical infrastructure damaged by the floods while supporting sanitation and public health measures aimed at preventing outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah said the exercise will be carried out in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Health Service, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He further disclosed that structures found to have been illegally constructed within waterways and drainage corridors, and which obstruct flood control efforts, will be removed in accordance with existing laws and directives from the relevant civil authorities.
Residents in affected communities have been urged to cooperate with security personnel and adhere to traffic and safety directives, as temporary road diversions are expected during the cleanup exercise.
According to Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah, the nationwide operation forms part of the government’s long-term strategy to strengthen Ghana’s resilience against flooding through improved drainage infrastructure, enhanced early warning systems and stricter enforcement of environmental and physical planning regulations.
He assured the public that the exercise would be conducted professionally and in full compliance with the laws of Ghana.
