Heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding throughout Accra this Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals. President John Mahama attributed the disaster to a combination of climate change and rapid, poorly planned urban growth.
While seasonal flooding is expected in Ghana, residents note that the situation has deteriorated significantly due to construction over natural waterways and inadequate drainage infrastructure. According to the president, the city recorded 140 millimetres of rain in a single day, an amount nearly three times higher than the previous year’s peak.
Mahama noted that while climate change remains a challenge beyond local control, human behavior—specifically the development of structures in waterways—exacerbates the danger. He lamented that previous attempts to clear these obstructions were met with public resistance.
Emergency teams and volunteers utilized boats in the Tse Addo suburb to save fifteen children and an infant. In the Alajo district, officials recovered the body of a man in his sixties, while two other people reportedly died in another neighborhood after rising waters caused a dangerous interaction with electrical wiring.
Authorities have advised citizens to limit movement while rescue crews, including military and police units, continue operations. With the Ghana Meteorological Agency forecasting continued rainfall in the region, officials remain on high alert for further flooding incidents.
