The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will deploy personnel, engineers and specialised equipment to clear major drains, rivers and Following the devastating floods that hit parts of the country on June 28 and 29, 2026, government has launched a nationwide recovery operation aimed at restoring blocked waterways and reducing the risk of future flooding.
As part of the exercise, a military-led team will clear debris, silt, fallen trees, abandoned vehicles and other obstructions that have worsened drainage challenges across affected communities.
Addressing journalists in Accra on Friday, July 3, the Director General of Joint Operations at the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, said the intervention forms part of a coordinated national effort to restore damaged infrastructure and improve flood resilience.
He explained that special attention will be given to the removal of refuse, silt, fallen trees, abandoned vehicles, collapsed structures and other materials blocking roads, bridges, drains and waterways.
He further noted that, in line with relevant laws and with support from civil authorities, structures illegally built on waterways or posing immediate safety risks may also be demolished as part of the operation.
Brig. Gen. Okae-Yeboah urged residents and property owners within drainage reserves and other high-risk areas to cooperate with authorities to ensure smooth implementation of the exercise.
The operation will be carried out alongside key state institutions, including the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Health Service and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
He added that MMDAs have also been directed to undertake parallel local clean-up exercises to support the national effort.
Brig. Gen. Okae-Yeboah cautioned that some roads may experience temporary diversions or restricted access during the operation and appealed to the public to comply with traffic and safety instructions from security personnel.
He stressed that government remains committed to ensuring the exercise is carried out professionally, humanely, and in accordance with the law.
The deployment follows the scale of destruction caused by the recent floods, which exposed major blockages and weaknesses in drainage systems across several affected areas.