Deputy Chief of Staff pushes green restoration of Kpeshie Lagoon buffer zone
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has directed the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) to begin plans to restore the ecological integrity of areas along the Kpeshie Lagoon following the demolition of illegal structures within the protected buffer zone.
Deputy Chief of Staff called for the reclaimed areas to be replanted with coconut and other suitable tree species as part of efforts to restore the wetland, improve its water-retention capacity and prevent future encroachment.
The restoration, he said, should be undertaken in collaboration with the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), with the EPA providing the necessary technical and environmental guidance.
He issued the directive on Sunday at Laboma after the Post Flood Mitigation Task Force, supported by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), carried out a demolition exercise targeting illegal structures within the Kpeshie Lagoon buffer zone.
Speaking to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, Mr Dogbe stressed that the objective of the exercise was not to demolish the entire Laboma area but to reclaim portions of what was previously a water-retention basin along the Kpeshie Lagoon.
According to him, the area was once characterised by green vegetation and served as a natural water-retention point, but years of clearing, sand filling and physical development had significantly altered its natural function.
He said restoring the reclaimed sections was therefore crucial to returning the area to its natural state and improving its capacity to retain floodwaters.
“After Sunday’s exercise, the team will clear the debris, and working with the REGSEC and EPA begin the process of planting trees along the secured area, which will even make it more serene for leisure and holiday makers,” he said.
“The long-term objective is to return the area to its natural state rather than leave the reclaimed land exposed.”
Mr Dogbe explained that the greening programme would also serve as a long-term protection measure against renewed encroachment on the reclaimed wetland.
The Kpeshie Lagoon has been identified as one of the critical flood intervention points in Accra after years of illegal reclamation, sand filling and commercial development reduced its water-holding capacity and obstructed the natural flow of water to and from the sea.
The Post Flood Mitigation Task Force has in recent weeks undertaken a series of interventions, including dredging, demolition and restoration of water-retention basins at several flood-prone locations across the Greater Accra Region.
The interventions have included the Tesa Dam, Lafa Water Retention Basin and Kpeshie Lagoon.
Authorities say the next phase will focus on restoring vegetation around the secured wetland areas and ensuring sustained environmental protection to strengthen the lagoon’s natural resilience against future flooding.
