Watch as flood task force flags project disrupting the natural course of a river in Oyarifa

The Flood Mitigation Task Force has uncovered a retention wall under construction at New York, a suburb of Oyarifa, which was blocking the natural flow of a water body, contributing to flooding in the area.

In a video shared by Jubilee House on Facebook on July 7, 2026, the task force, led by Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, Director General of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), discovered that the structure was being built in a way that redirected the water uphill, causing it to overflow into nearby communities.

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A resident who spoke to the task force said the flooding had worsened after a private individual, who claimed to have bought the land, started construction on the site despite complaints to the authorities.

“When the water overflows, this is where it passes. An individual came and informed us that he has bought the land. He brought in excavators to clear the place for his construction work,” the resident said.

The resident explained that the issue was reported to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), but the construction continued.

“I reported it to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), who also sent officials to check the situation. I don’t know what happened when the AMA officials came, but they failed to prevent the individual from undertaking his construction,” the resident added.

The resident further noted that some community leaders had protested against the project because of its adverse impact on the water body.

“Even some community leaders protested against the individual and his construction work on the river because when the water overflows, it floods the entire place and submerges our homes,” the resident stated.

He also alleged that attempts by residents to raise concerns had been met with intimidation.

“Anytime we complain, the individual uses land guards to terrorise us and also protect the land. He claims he owns the drain. He is constructing a building even though he is aware it was obstructing the free flow of the water,” he disclosed.

The team also identified several houses in the Oyarifa community for possible demolition after determining that some had been built on waterways, disrupting the natural flow of the water.

The inspection formed part of efforts by the government to identify and address factors contributing to flooding in parts of the country.

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Members of the team who were present at the site during the discovery included the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei; Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations at the Presidency, Stan Dogbe.

Watch the video below:

MAG/VPO

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