The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has taken the lead in coordinating nationwide post-flood recovery and clean-up operations following the devastating floods that affected parts of Greater Accra and other communities after the heavy rains of June 28 and 29.
The military is leading the exercise under the government’s National Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force, working alongside the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and other state agencies.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Director General of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, said the Armed Forces had been tasked to coordinate the operational phase of the national response, with the immediate objective of restoring affected communities and reducing the risk of further flooding. He explained that the exercise forms part of a broader government strategy to strengthen national flood resilience and improve emergency preparedness.
According to Brigadier General Okae-Yeboah, the nationwide operation is focusing on clearing choked drains, rivers, culverts and waterways, removing debris from roads and public spaces, and supporting sanitation efforts to minimise the risk of disease outbreaks such as cholera and typhoid in flood-affected communities.
He said the success of the exercise would depend on close collaboration between government agencies, local authorities and the public, urging residents to cooperate with security personnel, comply with traffic diversions where necessary, and refrain from indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and waterways.
The Ghana Armed Forces has also encouraged residents to remain alert and follow official updates issued through the Emergency Communications Committee, which has been established to provide timely information on recovery activities and public safety advisories.
The nationwide operation follows a directive by President John Dramani Mahama after an aerial assessment of flood-hit communities. Government has since established a National Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force comprising five specialised committees to coordinate relief, sanitation, communications, early warning and long-term flood mitigation measures.
The post-flood recovery exercise is expected to continue in the coming weeks as authorities work to restore affected areas, improve sanitation and strengthen measures aimed at reducing the impact of future flooding across the country.
