Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has directed the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) to commence the ecological restoration of reclaimed sections of the Kpeshie Lagoon at Laboma.
The directive follows the demolition of illegal structures within the lagoon’s protected buffer zone after occupants were given a 21-day ultimatum to vacate the area.
The ultimatum was issued as part of government’s broader post-flood mitigation efforts to reclaim waterways and protect critical water-retention areas in Greater Accra.
The Post Flood Mitigation Task Force subsequently moved into the area to remove structures built on portions of the lagoon that had been reclaimed and developed over the years.
Under the restoration plan, the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will work with the GARCC to restore the affected sections.
The exercise will include planting coconut and other suitable trees, removing demolition debris and putting in place environmental safeguards to protect the wetland.
Mr. Dogbe said the focus must now shift from demolition to restoring the lagoon’s natural flood-control function.
“The objective is not simply to clear the area, but to return the reclaimed sections to their natural state, strengthen the lagoon’s capacity to retain floodwaters and prevent future encroachment.”
The Kpeshie Lagoon has experienced years of reclamation, sand filling and construction, which have significantly reduced its natural capacity to retain floodwaters. The area has consequently been identified as a critical intervention point under the government’s post-flood mitigation programme.
Authorities are expected to continue with debris removal, vegetation restoration and measures to prevent fresh encroachment as the next phase of the intervention gets underway.
The restoration is part of wider efforts to rehabilitate waterways, retention basins and other flood-prone areas across Greater Accra.
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