Garcc Directed To Restore Kpeshie Lagoon Buffer Zone
The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) has been directed to immediately begin the ecological restoration of reclaimed sections of the Kpeshie Lagoon following a major clearance of illegal structures in the wetland’s protected buffer zone.
The directive was issued at Laboma by the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, during a demolition exercise carried out by the Post Flood Mitigation Task Force. The exercise forms part of broader government measures to protect critical water retention areas and restore flood-control infrastructure across the capital.
Under the new directives, the GARCC will collaborate with the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to execute a comprehensive re-vegetation plan. The initiative will involve planting coconut trees and other ecologically suitable species, alongside implementing environmental safeguards to repair the fragile ecosystem.
Speaking at the site, Mr Dogbe stressed that the task force’s operations extend beyond simple clearance. He noted that the primary objective is to return the reclaimed areas to their natural state, enhance the lagoon’s capacity to hold floodwaters, and establish a permanent barrier against future encroachment.
The Kpeshie Lagoon remains one of Greater Accra’s most critical flood mitigation points.
However, years of illegal land reclamation, sand filling, and unauthorised construction have severely compromised its natural water-holding capacity, worsening flood risks in adjoining communities.
With the initial clearance now completed, task force authorities are transitioning to debris removal, vegetation planting, and sustained monitoring to ensure long-term environmental protection and flood resilience for the capital.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana