The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has been assigned to spearhead a nationwide cleanup and recovery operation following the devastating floods that struck parts of the country on June 29, with officials warning that buildings obstructing waterways and drainage channels could be pulled down.
Addressing the media on Friday, July 3, 2026, the Director General of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, said the military will oversee the implementation of the exercise as part of the government’s wider flood response and mitigation strategy.
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According to him, military personnel, engineering units and heavy machinery will be deployed across affected communities to remove debris, silt, uprooted trees and damaged structures blocking drains, rivers, streams and other water channels.
The operation will also include efforts to reopen roads and repair essential infrastructure damaged by the floods while supporting sanitation initiatives and public health measures to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera and typhoid.
The Armed Forces will work closely with the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Health Service, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to carry out the exercise.
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Authorities further indicated that structures built within waterways and designated drainage corridors, which hinder flood control measures, may be demolished in accordance with existing laws and directives issued by the relevant civil authorities.
Residents living in affected communities have been encouraged to cooperate with security agencies and comply with all traffic and safety directives, as temporary road diversions are expected in some areas while the cleanup is underway.
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The government said the nationwide recovery exercise forms part of a long-term strategy to strengthen Ghana’s resilience against flooding through improved drainage systems, enhanced early warning mechanisms and stricter enforcement of environmental and development regulations.
Officials also assured the public that the operation will be conducted professionally and in full compliance with the country’s legal framework.