Work Begins to Reclaim Lafa Water Retention Basin to Curb Flooding

Work has commenced to reclaim the Lafa water retention basin at Mallam as part of government’s ongoing efforts to address flooding in Mallam, Weija, Dansoman and surrounding communities. The 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces is leading the operation, which seeks to restore the basin’s capacity by removing years of accumulated solid waste, silt and illegal structures that have obstructed the water reserve.

The exercise involves extensive dredging, evacuation of waste to a designated landfill site, demolition of illegal structures within the water reserve and the construction of protective embankments to strengthen the basin and improve its effectiveness in managing excess water.

The intervention is being coordinated by the Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force and forms part of a broader national programme to restore waterways, retention basins and drainage channels across Accra following the devastating June 29 floods.

Government has made resources and equipment available to support the exercise, with similar flood mitigation works also ongoing at Oyarifa, East Legon and the Kpeshie Lagoon area.

Authorities are urging residents and other stakeholders to cooperate with the taskforce and desist from activities that obstruct waterways, encroach on water reserves or otherwise undermine efforts to reduce the risk of flooding. The reclamation of the Lafa basin is expected to improve its capacity to retain excess stormwater and contribute to the protection of communities within the Mallam-Weija-Dansoman corridor.