Parliament commends Dredge Masters for flood control works, urges action on encroachers

Dredge Masters Limited, part of the Jospong Group, received praise from Parliament’s Select Committee on Works and Housing. This recognition was for their dredging work on the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon in Accra.

The commendation occurred during a field inspection on May 6, 2025. The visit aimed to assess flood control measures before the rainy season.

Vincent Asamoah Oppong, Chairperson of the Committee, praised the company's progress. He noted significant improvements in clearing the waterways.

He stated, “So far, you are doing a very good job.” However, he urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to enhance enforcement measures against flooding.

“With the rainy season approaching, MMDCEs must act swiftly,” he said. He emphasized that sanitation should be prioritized and encroachers relocated.

“We cannot afford to be reactive—we must be proactive,” he added. This approach aims to save lives and reduce economic losses.

Oppong highlighted that poor enforcement of environmental laws undermines flood control efforts. He mentioned illegal structures along the Odaw River that remain despite compensation offers.

“That’s unacceptable,” he remarked about these encroachments.

A major concern during the tour was silt and sand redepositing along canal banks. If not removed quickly, this debris could wash back into drains during heavy rains.

“This defeats the entire purpose of dredging,” Oppong warned. He called for immediate action from MMDCEs to address this issue.

Committee member Martin Kwaku Adjei-Mensah Korsah echoed these concerns about construction in flood-prone areas.

“It’s alarming to see buildings going up in unsafe zones,” he said. When floods occur, resources are redirected from schools and hospitals.

He called for stricter enforcement of planning and sanitation laws to prevent future disasters.

Samuel Borquaye, Deputy Managing Director of Dredge Masters Limited, updated the Committee on their work status.

“We began dredging at Caprice and have reached Circle,” he explained. They plan to continue toward Korle Lagoon next.

Borquaye noted that maintenance dredging aims to prevent floods amid forecasts of heavy rainfall this year. However, challenges persist due to waste dumping by residents along waterways.

“This behaviour hampers our work,” he stated about public attitudes toward waste disposal.

He also shared a vision for transforming the area into a tourist destination with proper investments.

“With planning, this zone could become a beautiful tourist site,” he concluded. First, infrastructure issues and public behavior must be addressed.

The Committee stressed urgent coordination among city authorities for effective flood prevention efforts and long-term sustainability.