Parliamentary Select Committee on Works and Housing has commended Dredge Masters Limited, a Jopsong Group subsidiary for its ongoing dredging works in the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon.
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, members of the committee visited the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon where Dredge Masters Limited, is undertaking critical dredging operations to prevent flooding.
Committee Chairperson, Hon. Vincent Asamoah Oppong, was visibly impressed with the pace and quality of the work.
“So far, you are doing a very good job, and we are impressed,” he told the engineers on site.
But behind the praise was a stern warning to city authorities, particularly Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and the Mayor of Accra.
“With the rainy season fast approaching, sanitation must be taken seriously, and encroachers must be relocated,” he cautioned.
“We cannot afford to be reactive. We must be proactive if we want to save lives and reduce economic losses associated with flooding.”
Asamoah Oppong lamented the persistent disregard for environmental laws and the lack of enforcement at the local level.
He cited the Odaw River as a glaring example of government efforts being undermined.
“There are encroachments all along the river. Some of these people were compensated to leave, but they are still here,” he said.
“If silt dredged from the drains is deposited on the banks and not evacuated due to illegal occupation, it will simply wash back into the drains when the rains come. That defeats the whole purpose.”
Hon. Martin Kwaku Adjei-Mensah Korsah, MP for Techiman South and a member of the Committee, echoed these concerns.
“It’s disturbing to see buildings springing up in flood-prone areas despite repeated warnings. Human life must come first,” he said.
He warned that the state ends up spending millions on relief and reconstruction each year—money that could have gone into healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The tour also brought attention to the daily challenges faced by Dredge Masters on the ground.
Ing. Samuel Borquaye, Deputy Managing Director of Dredge Masters, said the company had so far dredged from Caprice to Kwame Nkrumah Circle and was advancing towards the Korle Lagoon.
He bemoaned the indiscriminate dumping of waste as a major hurdle.
“This work could go a lot faster if people stopped throwing garbage into the drains. It’s not just about dredging; we need to change our mindset as citizens,” he stressed.
Borquaye also shared a bigger vision for the future. “With proper planning and investment, this area could be turned into a tourist attraction. But we must first deal with infrastructure and public behaviour,” he said.
