The taskforce among other things are to identify flood prone zones, result major drains, demolish structures on waterways and facilitate a major public education campaign to mitigate potential flood disasters this rainy season
The Anti-Flood Taskforce is chaired by Deputy Chief of Staff in Charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe.
Other members are the Minister for Water Resources Works & Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Local Government, Ahmed Ibrahim, National Security Coordinator, DCOP Abdul Osman Razak, Deputy Director General of NADMO, Teddy Addi and the the Legal Counsel to the President, Marietta Brew who also serves as the Secretary.
The initiative follows the perennial flooding in the nation’s capital resulting in heavy losses and deaths.
On Wednesday, March 12, 2024 the taskforce embarked on an assessment tour of tbe affected areas on a helicopter to have a birds eye view of some estuaries and major drains to inform their operational plan.
Key areas inspected included Weija, Sakumo ramsar site, Tema Fishing Harbour area and the ODAW river basin
Briefing the media after the tour, Deputy Chief of staff in Charge of Operations revealed that their mandate is to ensure the immediate mobilization of resources to begin dredging and desolating of major drains.
He said they will be firm in the application of the law to ensure lives and properties are protected when the rains set it
He added that the 48-Engineers Regiment of tbe Ghana Armed Forces and the National Disaster management Organisation wi be working closely with the Ministry of Works and Housing as well as the Minstry in charge of sanitation, as well as the local assemblies to ensure active participation of tbe citizenry to mitigate any potential disaster.
Brigadier General Richard Kinney, a Commander of the Engineer Brigade of the Ghana Armed Forces attributed the long standing flooding in the capital to indiscipline on the part of residents in flood prone areas. He further stated that key measures which will be taken include the prevention of building in water ways.
