Zoomlion, NADMO and Dredge Masters Step Up Flood Prevention Efforts Across Greater Accra

As the rainy season intensifies across southern Ghana, a coalition of public agencies and private operators has launched a coordinated flood prevention exercise spanning multiple districts in the Greater Accra Region.

Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Dredge Masters Gh. Ltd — a subsidiary of the Jospong Group — are leading the effort, which has already reached Teshie-Nungua, the Osu Castle beachfront, Achimota, Abokobi, and the Ga East Municipality. The Ghana Police Service, local metropolitan assemblies, and community groups are also participating.

The exercise involves the removal of accumulated silt, plastic waste, and other obstructions from major drainage channels, as well as mechanical dredging of the Dakobi River, a critical waterway that manages stormwater across the Pantang-Madina-Abokobi enclave.

Community Mobilisation and Specialised Machinery

In the Blekese West Electoral Area of the Krowor Municipal Assembly, residents joined sanitation workers in a communal effort to clear blocked drains. Assembly Member Hon. Alhassan Mohamadu Cabilla praised Zoomlion’s swift response, noting that the volume of silt deposited in local drains required specialised machinery beyond what manual labour could achieve.

“Although residents regularly undertake communal labour to keep the area clean, the volume of silt deposited in the drains required specialised machinery beyond what could be handled through manual efforts,” he said, describing the intervention as “timely and critical.”

Cabilla also appealed to the public to stop dumping refuse into gutters, warning that such practices undermine costly desilting efforts and worsen flooding.

Warnings to Developers on Waterways

In the Ga East Municipality, NADMO Municipal Director Edem Agbenyfie commended Dredge Masters for its technical expertise and equipment, describing the dredging of the Dakobi River as a “significant contribution” to protecting lives and property in the area.

Agbenyfie also issued a pointed warning to developers and landowners who continue to build within designated waterways despite repeated notices from authorities. “The assembly would not hesitate to enforce planning regulations, including the demolition of unauthorised structures that obstruct the natural flow of water,” he said.

The intervention comes at a critical time. Kumasi has similarly intensified its own flood preparedness measures, with the KMA Mayor personally inspecting flood-prone areas across the metropolis. In Accra, where poor drainage and unregulated construction have long exacerbated seasonal flooding, the current exercise is part of a broader disaster preparedness strategy that authorities say will intensify in the coming weeks.

Beyond Engineering Solutions

Officials involved in the exercise stress that engineering interventions alone cannot solve Accra’s flooding problem. Sustained public education, responsible waste disposal, routine maintenance of drainage infrastructure, and strict enforcement of environmental and planning regulations are all essential to achieving lasting results.

With heavy rainfall expected to continue throughout the season, the collaborative effort represents a recognition that Accra’s annual flood crisis demands both immediate action and long-term behavioural change from residents, developers, and government alike.

Image Source: STARR FM