The Ghana Armed Forces will spearhead a nationwide post-flood recovery and cleanup exercise following the devastating June 29 floods, with authorities warning that structures illegally erected on waterways and drainage reservations may be demolished as part of the operation.
Addressing the nation on Friday, July 3, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah said the military has been tasked by the government to coordinate the nationwide exercise under a broader flood mitigation programme.
He explained that military personnel, engineers and heavy equipment will be deployed to clear drains, rivers, streams and other waterways blocked by silt, debris, fallen trees and collapsed structures.
According to him, the operation will also focus on restoring roads and other critical infrastructure damaged by the floods, while supporting sanitation and public health interventions to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
He said the exercise will be undertaken in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Health Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
As part of the exercise, authorities will remove structures found to have been illegally constructed within waterways and drainage corridors where they obstruct flood control efforts, in accordance with existing laws and directives from relevant civil authorities.
Residents in affected communities have been urged to cooperate with security personnel and comply with traffic and safety instructions, as some roads are expected to experience temporary diversions during the cleanup exercise.
Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah said the nationwide operation forms part of government’s broader strategy to strengthen flood resilience through improved drainage infrastructure, enhanced early warning systems and stricter enforcement of environmental and planning regulations.
He assured the public that the exercise would be conducted professionally and in accordance with the laws of Ghana.
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