The Ghanaian government has renewed its intervention at Mallam Junction, a frequently flooded area in Greater Accra, in an effort to provide a lasting solution to the recurring flooding that has affected residents, motorists, and businesses. The latest efforts are part of a broader government response to the landfill, drainage, and environmental challenges blamed for worsening flooding in Mallam and surrounding communities.
The government has deployed personnel and operational teams to the Mallam area to address the underlying causes of flooding and improve the flow of stormwater. This follows earlier engagements initiated from Jubilee House under the leadership of Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, bringing together relevant government agencies, the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly, and private-sector stakeholders operating around the affected area.
Those engagements focused on the landfill, blocked drainage channels, and other environmental factors associated with the recurring flooding around Mallam Junction. The renewed activity comes against the background of ongoing government efforts to restore waterways and drainage systems in flood-prone areas across Greater Accra. In August, work began to reclaim the Lafa water retention basin at Mallam.
The operation included the removal of illegal structures and plans to construct protective embankments. The Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force, which is coordinating the wider exercise, has said the objective is to restore the integrity of waterways and reduce the impact of flooding in affected communities.
For residents and businesses around Mallam Junction, the renewed attention is being viewed as a welcome departure from interventions that often intensify only after heavy rainfall causes flooding. They say sustained government presence at the landfill and drainage sites could help address the conditions that contribute to the accumulation of floodwater.
The Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly’s involvement is also considered critical, given its role in local sanitation enforcement, drainage maintenance, and monitoring of activities around the affected areas. CAITECH has also expressed willingness to support efforts to address the flooding challenge, including providing funding, equipment, and logistics for dredging and other remedial works.
Residents are consequently calling for the current momentum to be maintained until the landfill, drainage, and wider environmental challenges are comprehensively addressed. They say the immediate objective is not simply to clear floodwater after heavy rains, but to address the conditions that cause or worsen flooding in the first place.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government's renewed intervention at Mallam Junction aims to address the underlying causes of flooding.
- The intervention includes the removal of years of accumulated solid waste and silt from the Lafa water retention basin.
- Residents and businesses are calling for sustained efforts to address the environmental challenges contributing to flooding.
