Dredge Masters Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group, has earned praise from Parliament’s Select Committee on Works and Housing for its ongoing dredging of the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon in Accra.

The commendation came during a field inspection tour on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, as part of efforts to assess flood control measures ahead of the rainy season.

Chairperson of the Committee, Vincent Asamoah Oppong, lauded the company’s efforts, noting significant progress in clearing the waterways.

“So far, you are doing a very good job, and we are impressed with what you are doing,” he said.

However, Asamoah Oppong issued a strong call to action to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), especially the Mayor of Accra, to step up enforcement measures to prevent another year of devastating floods.

“With the rainy season fast approaching, MMDCEs must act swiftly. Sanitation must be prioritised, and encroachers relocated. We cannot afford to be reactive—we must be proactive to save lives and reduce economic losses,” he stated.

He stressed that poor enforcement of environmental and sanitation laws was undermining flood control efforts.

“There are numerous illegal structures along the Odaw, and we’re told some of these encroachers were even compensated but never left. That’s unacceptable,” he said.

A key concern raised during the tour was the redeposit of silt and sand along canal banks, which could easily wash back into the drains during heavy rains if not quickly evacuated.

“This defeats the entire purpose of dredging. The MMDCEs must ensure this is addressed immediately,” Mr Asamoah Oppong warned.

Committee member and MP for Techiman South, Martin Kwaku Adjei-Mensah Korsah, echoed these concerns, decrying the ongoing construction in flood-prone zones.

“It’s alarming to see buildings going up in clearly unsafe areas. When floods destroy lives and property, the government is forced to redirect resources that could go into schools, hospitals, and essential services,” he said, calling for stricter enforcement of planning and sanitation laws.

The Deputy Managing Director of Dredge Masters Limited, Samuel Borquaye, briefed the Committee on the status of the works.

“We began dredging at Caprice and have reached the Circle area, from where we’ll proceed to Korle Lagoon,” he said.

He explained that the maintenance dredging is aimed at preventing floods, particularly with forecasts of heavy rainfall this year.

But he noted challenges, including indiscriminate dumping of waste by residents along the waterways.

“This behaviour hampers our work. We need to change public attitudes toward waste disposal,” he said.

Mr Borquaye also expressed a vision to transform the area into a tourist destination with the right investments.

“With proper planning, this zone could be turned into a beautiful tourist site. But we must first address infrastructure and public behaviour,” he concluded.

The Committee reiterated the urgent need for coordinated efforts by city authorities to protect public investments in flood prevention and ensure long-term sustainability.