Gov't enforces operation targeting illegal structures along Kpeshie Lagoon

The Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo has led a major government enforcement operation targeting illegal structures along the Kpeshie Lagoon, as authorities intensify efforts to reclaim public lands and curb the perennial flooding that continues to plague parts of the capital.

The joint operation, carried out with support from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other state agencies, focused on the restoration and reclamation of the Kpeshie Lagoon’s riparian zone—an ecologically sensitive area that has suffered years of unregulated development.

Officials say the exercise forms part of a broader government strategy to restore spatial planning discipline and protect lives and property in flood-prone communities.

According to the Regional Minister, the initial phase of the operation yielded significant progress, with unauthorized structures along the lagoon banks on the Teshie Bush Road removed.

She announced that enforcement would continue beyond the first day, stressing that the government would not back down in its resolve to protect wetlands and waterways from encroachment.

“The situation along the Kpeshie Lagoon has reached a critical point,” the Minister noted, adding that years of unchecked construction within the riparian buffer have narrowed water channels, worsened flooding, and undermined the lagoon’s natural drainage function.

She warned that structures sited within such zones, regardless of ownership or duration, would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Operation

The Kpeshie Lagoon, one of the major wetlands within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, has long served as a natural drainage basin for surrounding communities.

However, rapid urbanisation, weak enforcement of planning regulations, and persistent encroachment have severely degraded the lagoon over the years.

These developments have been repeatedly linked to seasonal flooding incidents that displace residents, destroy property, and strain emergency response systems.

Successive governments have announced plans to reclaim and rehabilitate the lagoon, but implementation has often stalled.

Recent deadly floods in parts of Accra have renewed public pressure on authorities to act decisively, leading to the current enforcement drive.

Government’s Reclamation Plan

Beyond the demolition exercise, the Regional Minister outlined a comprehensive restoration programme aimed at giving the Kpeshie Lagoon a long-term environmental and economic reset.

Key components of the plan include large-scale desilting and dredging to deepen the lagoon bed and clear blocked drains, a move expected to significantly improve water flow and reduce inland flooding.

In addition, the government plans to roll out an extensive riparian greening project once illegal structures are cleared.

This will involve planting native vegetation and creating managed green belts along the lagoon banks to act as natural flood buffers, enhance biodiversity, and provide recreational spaces for residents.

The reclamation effort also targets ecological preservation, with officials emphasising the need to restore the lagoon’s wetland ecosystem and protect its role as a critical environmental asset for the national capital.

Call for Public Cooperation

The Regional Minister used the occasion to caution residents and developers against flouting zoning and land-use regulations, insisting that enforcement would be consistent and uncompromising.

She said the ongoing actions reflect the government’s broader “Make Accra Work” agenda, which aims to build a resilient, orderly and liveable city.