The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has announced plans to dredge sections of the Tano River and restore its banks following devastating floods that affected residents of Samreboi in the Western Region.

Prof. Browne Klutse made the disclosure during a visit to the flood‑hit community, where she led an EPA delegation accompanied by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and the area Assembly Member to assess the extent of the damage caused by the floods.

Preliminary assessments, she said, showed that the flooding was largely caused by the overflow of the Tano River, which burst its banks and inundated parts of the community.

According to the EPA chief, the integrity of the river banks has been severely compromised, leaving the area highly vulnerable to future flooding should there be further rainfall.

She disclosed that the EPA intends to dredge the river to improve water flow, noting that several sections have become blocked.

Prof. Browne Klutse further assured residents that concrete walls will be constructed along portions of the river close to the community to strengthen the banks and prevent future flooding.

"Currently at Samreboi visited the chiefs and the people at the community debar. Accessing the community, we've seen cause of the flood in the community is likely because the Tano River which right by the community have overflow it bank and has been in the community.

"So of you've heard our assessment through the community and now we're currently at the river side by the Tano River accessing the integrity of the banks, we've seen that the integrity is already compromise.

"It eases any further rain will cause another flooding as you can see at the Tano River currently. What EPA want to do is not just to dredge and allow the flow of the Tano River because we've seen it blocked at different sections of the river.

"We also want to restore the banks, we want to actually build concrete wall to restore the banks especially near the community or the sections that near the community to avoid further flooding from the river," she assured.

Prof. Browne Klutse also issued a strong warning against illegal mining and other activities that pollute or obstruct river bodies.

She reiterated that mining in river bodies remains illegal and stressed that persons found engaging in such activities would face the full rigours of the law.