Government has activated a nationwide post-flood recovery and mitigation exercise led by the Ghana Armed Forces following the devastating floods that hit parts of the country after heavy rains on June 28 and 29, 2026.
The exercise, which is backed by a GH¢350 million emergency allocation, is aimed at restoring affected communities, improving sanitation, protecting public health and reducing the country’s vulnerability to future flooding.
Speaking at a press briefing on the national response to the recent floods, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, Director General of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces and Coordinator of the Government’s Special Military-Led Flood Mitigation Taskforce, said the intervention followed the severe destruction caused by the floods in several communities within the Greater Accra Region as well as parts of the Volta and Savannah regions.
According to him, immediately after the disaster, President John Dramani Mahama conducted an aerial and ground assessment of affected areas to obtain first-hand information on the scale of destruction and to direct an effective national response.
He explained that following the assessment, government activated a National Post-Flood Mitigation Taskforce to coordinate all relief, recovery and flood prevention interventions across the country.
Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah disclosed that several specialised committees have been established to drive the exercise, including the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, Early Warning Committee, Sanitation and Health Committee, Relief and Donations Committee, and Emergency Communications Committee.
He noted that government’s immediate priority is to restore public safety and prevent secondary disasters such as cholera, typhoid and other water-borne diseases that often emerge after severe flooding incidents.
“As part of the operation, the Ghana Armed Forces will deploy personnel, engineers and specialised equipment to clear major drains, streams, rivers and other critical waterways,” he stated.
The nationwide exercise will involve the removal of refuse, silt, fallen trees, abandoned vehicles, collapsed structures and debris obstructing roads, bridges and drainage systems.
The military-led operation will be undertaken in collaboration with several state institutions, including the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Health Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah further revealed that enforcement measures would form a key part of the exercise, warning that structures illegally erected in waterways or those posing immediate threats to public safety could be demolished.
“In accordance with applicable laws and directives of the appropriate civil authorities, structures illegally erected within waterways or that pose an immediate danger to public safety and flood mitigation efforts may be removed where necessary,” he stressed.
He therefore urged residents and property owners in waterways, drainage reservations and environmentally sensitive areas to cooperate fully with authorities to facilitate the exercise.
The taskforce coordinator also announced that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have been directed to organise intensive clean-up exercises within their jurisdictions to complement the national operation.
He commended private sector organisations that have responded to government’s appeal by providing heavy-duty equipment, logistics support and technical expertise to support the exercise.
“The government commends this demonstration of patriotism and corporate social responsibility and encourages other organisations to support this important national endeavour,” he said.
According to him, equipment procured under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) is also being mobilised to support operations in affected communities.
He cautioned motorists and commuters to expect temporary traffic diversions and restricted access on some roads while engineering and clean-up works are ongoing.
Residents were advised to comply with all traffic and safety directives issued by security agencies and personnel on the ground.
By 1960news.com
