Kpeshie Lagoon: Gov’t demolishes illegal structures, moves to restore wetland

Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has directed the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) to begin the ecological restoration of reclaimed portions of the Kpeshie Lagoon at Laboma.

The directive follows the removal of illegal structures from the wetland’s protected buffer zone by the Post Flood Mitigation Task Force as part of efforts to restore flood-control infrastructure and protect critical water-retention areas across Greater Accra.

The restoration exercise will involve the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which are expected to plant coconut and other suitable tree species while putting in place measures to protect the fragile ecosystem.

Mr Dogbe said the intervention should go beyond the demolition of structures, with the reclaimed sections restored to their natural state and protected from further encroachment.

“The objective is not simply to clear the area, but to return the reclaimed sections to their natural state, strengthen the lagoon’s capacity to retain floodwaters and prevent future encroachment.”

The Kpeshie Lagoon is regarded as one of Accra’s critical flood intervention points. However, years of reclamation, sand filling and development have reduced its natural capacity to hold water and affected its role in managing floodwaters.

Following the clearance, authorities are expected to remove debris and restore vegetation across the affected areas.

The exercise forms part of broader post-flood mitigation measures aimed at restoring vulnerable waterways and strengthening Greater Accra’s resilience against flooding.