Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has directed the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) to begin the ecological restoration of reclaimed sections of the Kpeshie Lagoon.
The directive follows the removal of illegal structures within the protected buffer zone of the wetland as part of ongoing efforts to restore flood-control infrastructure and protect critical water retention areas across the Greater Accra Region.
Mr Dogbe issued the directive at Laboma during a demolition exercise conducted by the Post Flood Mitigation Task Force.
He said the exercise should not end with the demolition of illegal structures, stressing the need to restore the affected areas to their natural state.
The restoration exercise will involve the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with plans to plant coconut and other suitable tree species as part of measures to rehabilitate the fragile ecosystem.
Mr Dogbe said the objective was to strengthen the lagoon’s capacity to retain floodwaters and prevent further encroachment into the wetland.
According to him, years of reclamation, sand filling and development around the Kpeshie Lagoon have significantly reduced its natural water-holding capacity, contributing to the vulnerability of surrounding communities to flooding.
He therefore stressed the need for sustained environmental protection alongside the removal of illegal structures.
Following the clearance exercise, authorities are expected to remove debris, restore vegetation and implement measures to protect the reclaimed sections from renewed encroachment.
The Kpeshie Lagoon is considered one of Accra’s critical flood intervention points, and its restoration forms part of broader efforts to improve the city’s flood resilience.
Mr Dogbe reiterated that the government’s approach was not merely to clear illegal developments but to restore critical wetlands and water retention areas to ensure they can perform their natural flood-control functions.
