President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans by the government to acquire additional backhoes and specialised equipment for the military to enhance drainage clearing exercises and help reduce flooding across the country.

The President said the equipment will assist in removing and properly disposing of silt and waste cleared from drains, instead of leaving the excavated materials along waterways where they can be washed back into drainage systems during heavy rainfall.

“We also have to get specialised machines like backhoes to take the silts that we have taken out of the drains and put them in a tipper truck to take them away,” President Mahama said.

He explained that the government intends to provide more backhoes to the Ghana Armed Forces to support regular maintenance of drainage channels and improve the effectiveness of sanitation exercises.

“So we’re going to get some more backhoes for the military so that all the garbage and the silts that we have taken out of the drains, they’ll be able to gather it and go and dump it somewhere,” he added.

President Mahama stressed that proper disposal of waste removed from drains is critical to ensuring that desilting exercises achieve their intended purpose.

“Otherwise, if we don’t do that, what we’ve done will be in vain because when the rains come, it will just wash all those silts and garbage back into the drain,” he cautioned.

The initiative forms part of the government’s wider flood prevention measures following repeated flooding incidents in several parts of the country.

President Mahama made the announcement while expressing appreciation to traditional leaders, volunteers and residents who took part in the nationwide environmental clean-up exercise.

“I want to thank all the people of Ghana who have come out today to clean their environment. Thank you,” he said.

The government says improving drainage maintenance and strengthening sanitation practices remain key priorities in efforts to build resilience against future flooding.