Work has begun to reclaim the Lafa Water Retention Basin at Mallam as part of government’s intensified efforts to reduce the risk of flooding in Mallam, Weija, Dansoman and adjoining communities.
The intervention is aimed at restoring the basin’s capacity to receive and retain stormwater after years of accumulation of solid waste, silt and other obstructions, as well as the growth of illegal structures within the water reserve.
The 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces is spearheading the reclamation exercise, which forms part of a wider flood mitigation programme being implemented following the devastating floods that hit parts of Accra on June 29, 2026.
As part of the operation, personnel and equipment have been deployed to dredge the retention basin and remove accumulated silt and solid waste that have reduced the waterway’s ability to hold excess water during heavy rainfall.
The waste being removed is being transported to a designated landfill site to prevent it from being left along the drainage system or dumped at other locations where it could create further blockages.
The exercise also involves the demolition and removal of illegal structures found within the designated water reserve. Such encroachments are considered a major threat to the effectiveness of flood control infrastructure because they restrict the natural flow and storage of stormwater.
Protective embankments are also being constructed as part of measures to strengthen the basin and protect surrounding areas from potential overflow.
The Mallam project is being coordinated by the Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force, which is overseeing a broader programme to restore waterways, drainage channels and other flood-control infrastructure across Accra.
The initiative follows growing concerns over the impact of intense rainfall, blocked drains, inadequate water-retention capacity and human activities along waterways.
Government has made equipment and other resources available to support the ongoing works, with similar interventions taking place at other locations across the Greater Accra Region.
Works are also ongoing at Oyarifa, East Legon and the Kpeshie Lagoon area, as authorities seek to address vulnerable points within the capital’s drainage network.
The broader objective is to improve the capacity of waterways and retention facilities to convey and temporarily hold stormwater, thereby reducing the likelihood of flooding in densely populated communities.
Authorities have meanwhile appealed to residents and other stakeholders to cooperate with the Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force as the reclamation and drainage improvement exercises continue.
The public has also been urged to stop dumping refuse into drains, waterways and retention basins and to desist from putting up structures or undertaking activities that obstruct natural watercourses.
The taskforce is expected to continue identifying and addressing obstructions along waterways as part of efforts to strengthen Accra’s resilience against flooding.
The reclamation of the Lafa basin is therefore being viewed as an important component of the wider response to the city’s flooding challenges, particularly in communities that have repeatedly experienced the effects of heavy rainfall and inadequate drainage capacity.
Officials say sustained public cooperation, proper waste disposal and respect for designated water reserves will be critical to ensuring that the investments being made in flood mitigation achieve their intended purpose.
By 1960news.com
