By: Alex Adi
The parliamentary Select committee on works and housing has commended Dredge Masters Limited, a Jopsong Group for its ongoing dredging works in Accra‘s Odaw River and Korle Lagoon.
During a field inspection tour on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Accra, the Committee Chairperson, Mr. Vincent Asamoah Oppong, expressed satisfaction with the company’s progress, noting that they were pleased with the ongoing dredging works.
The field inspection exercise was part of efforts by Parliament to monitor flood control measures ahead of the heavy downpours expected in the national capital, Accra, this year.
“So far, you (in reference to Dredge Masters) are doing a very good job and we are impressed with what you are doing,” he expressed.
However, he charged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and particularly the Mayor of Accra, to take immediate action against Accra’s perennial flooding, especially with the onset of the rainy season.
Mr. Asamoah Oppong stated that “With the rainy season fast approaching, it is imperative that the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and particularly the Mayor of Accra, takes immediate steps to ensure these matters are well addressed.
Sanitation must be taken seriously, and encroachers must be relocated. We cannot afford to be reactive. We must be proactive if we want to save lives and reduce economic losses associated with flooding,” he asserted.
He again emphasised on the importance of law enforcement and local government responsibility in addressing the underlying causes of flooding.
“The district and municipal assemblies are key players in this. Issues of sanitation and encroachment fall squarely within their jurisdiction. Ghana has good environmental and sanitation laws, but our biggest problem is enforcement. Along this river (Odaw River), for instance, there are numerous encroachments, and from what we have been told, some of these individuals were even compensated to vacate but they still remain here,” he noted.
He further pointed out an operational challenge that could undermine the entire dredging effort.
“The sand and silt that are being removed from the canals are currently being deposited on the banks. If these areas remain occupied or unmanaged, the material could easily find its way back into the drains during the rains, thereby rendering the entire project ineffective. This defeats the purpose of dredging, which is to clear the waterways and prevent flooding,” Mr. Asamoah Oppong cautioned.
The MP for Techiman South, Mr. Martin Kwaku Adjei-Mensah Korsah, a member of the Committee, similarly expressed concern over the increasing rate of encroachment along the waterways.
Earlier, the Deputy Managing Director of Dredge Masters Limited (DML), overseeing the dredging works in both the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon, Mr. Samuel Borquaye explained that the dredging was to desilt the channels to prevent flooding during the rainy season, especially with the forecast of heavy downpours this year. He highlighted some key challenges affecting their work, particularly the indiscriminate dumping of refuse by residents along the waterways.
“This makes the dredging process more difficult than it should be. We need to change our attitudes when it comes to waste disposal,” he lamented.
Mr. Borquaye indicated that, With proper planning and investment the areas being dredged could be developed into a beautiful site for tourism. But for that to happen, there was the need go back to the drawing board and work on both infrastructure and public behaviour.
