Floods in Ghana's capital Accra leave at least three dead

Accra, Ghana's capital, was inundated by torrential rains on Monday, leading to at least three fatalities and prompting rescue teams to use boats in some areas. The heavy downpour, which began around 3 a.m., quickly submerged streets, causing widespread disruption.

While floods are a common occurrence during Ghana's rainy season, many residents attribute the severity in Accra to rapid urban expansion and inadequate drainage infrastructure. The city recorded approximately 140 millimeters of rain in a single day, a figure described by President John Mahama as the highest in several years and nearly triple the amount recorded last year.

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That aspect of the problem is beyond our control because it is driven by changing climate conditions.

"That aspect of the problem is beyond our control because it is driven by changing climate conditions," President Mahama stated on X, acknowledging the role of climate change. However, he also cautioned against "the problem of human behavior," suggesting that urban planning and waste management also contribute to the problem.

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The problem of human behavior.

In the Tse Addo neighborhood in eastern Accra, rescue teams and volunteers evacuated 15 children and an infant. The body of a man in his sixties was discovered in the Alajo neighborhood, where floodwaters also damaged vehicles and homes. Local journalists reported two additional deaths due to electrocution from downed power lines during the flooding.

The Ministry of the Interior urged residents to avoid non-essential travel, as police, military, and rescue services were deployed for relief operations. Patience Naa Adjeley Adjei, a teacher in Accra, described her ordeal: "I have dried my room more than eight times. I can't even go out, my room is flooded and outside too."

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I have dried my room more than eight times. I can't even go out, my room is flooded and outside too.