The government has unveiled a National Post-Flood Clean-Up and Recovery Exercise to mitigate the impact of the devastating floods that hit the Greater Accra Region and other parts of the country on June 29.
In line with this, a National Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force has been activated to coordinate all recovery, relief and mitigation interventions. The Task Force, under the leadership of Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, Director General of Joint Operations at the Ghana Armed Forces, will ensure an effective and coordinated response.
Speaking at a press conference at the Presidency in Accra, Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah said following the heavy rains of Sunday, June 28 and Monday, June 29, which caused devastating floods in several communities within the Greater Accra Region and parts of the Volta and Central Regions, a comprehensive post-flood recovery and mitigation programme had been activated to restore normalcy, safeguard public health and strengthen national resilience against future flooding.
He noted that in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, President John Dramani Mahama conducted an aerial reconnaissance of the affected areas to obtain a first-hand assessment of the extent of the devastation and to direct the Government's response based on the realities on the ground. Following this assessment, the President directed the activation of the Task Force.
Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah said the President had committed GHS 350 million to support emergency relief, recovery, and flood-mitigation interventions. He noted that the Government had directed that the Ghana Armed Forces lead the operational component of the mitigation effort in collaboration with relevant agencies under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, NADMO, MMDAs, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Health Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, private sector organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.
He said the nationwide clean-up and recovery exercise will focus on restoring public safety, improving sanitation, and preventing secondary disasters such as outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and other waterborne diseases. Particular attention will be given to the removal of refuse, silt, fallen trees, abandoned vehicles, collapsed structures and other debris obstructing roads, bridges, drains and waterways.
"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," Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah stated.
He said 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. The MMDAs had also been directed to organise and lead clean-up exercises within their respective jurisdictions in support of the national operation.
Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah expressed gratitude to private sector organisations that had responded positively to the national appeal by voluntarily providing heavy equipment, technical expertise, and logistics to support the exercise. He noted that equipment acquired under the District Road Improvement Programme was being mobilised to augment ongoing operations.
He advised that portions of some roads might experience temporary traffic diversions or restricted access while clean-up and engineering works were underway.
