Korle Lagoon slum to make way for high-rise container housing, Ayariga says

The government plans to replace the slum settlement along the Korle Lagoon in Accra with high-rise container housing after clearing the area, Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister Mahama Ayariga has said.

The proposed redevelopment forms part of efforts to improve sanitation and public health around the lagoon, where accumulated waste and pollution have created longstanding environmental concerns.

Mr Ayariga said a military-led operation would evacuate and clear the site before construction begins. Waste removed from the area is expected to be transported to the Adepa Waste Management Centre at Nsawam.

The project will also involve dredging the Korle Lagoon in an attempt to improve sanitation and address the environmental problems affecting the surrounding communities.

Speaking to journalists during a visit to the area, the minister acknowledged that the clearance could face resistance from some residents but said he expected the exercise to receive broad public support.

“Those of us who want to clear it in Accra here, we are far more than those who want to resist clearing the mess,” he said.

The announcement signals a potentially significant change for people living and working along the lagoon. However, the government has not provided details about how many residents will be affected or whether they will be temporarily relocated, compensated or accommodated in the proposed housing.

It is also unclear whether the container homes will be offered to existing residents of the settlement, how beneficiaries will be selected or whether occupants will be expected to rent or purchase the units.

No estimated cost, construction timetable or funding arrangement for the redevelopment was included in the announcement.

Further information will also be required about the design, size and safety standards of the proposed high-rise container buildings, as well as the agencies responsible for constructing and managing them.

The plan combines three major interventions: clearing the dumpsite, dredging the Korle Lagoon and redeveloping the surrounding settlement.

The government has not yet announced when the military-led exercise will begin. Residents and businesses operating in the affected area are also awaiting details about the boundaries of the clearance and what arrangements will be made before the operation starts.