Floods paralyze Ghana capital, kill three

Accra, Ghana's capital, was paralyzed by torrential rains and severe flooding on Monday, resulting in at least three deaths, according to authorities and local media. President John Mahama pointed to climate change and unchecked urbanization as the primary culprits for the disaster, noting that the city experienced approximately 140 millimeters of rain in a single day – the highest in several years and nearly triple last year's peak.

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That aspect of the problem is beyond our control because it is driven by changing climatic conditions. But he also warned of “the issue of human behaviour”. Whenever government begins removing structures built in waterways, some people accuse us of being inhumane. Yet when disasters such as today’s flooding occur, the consequences affect everyone.

While Mahama acknowledged that changing climatic conditions are beyond control, he also highlighted the role of human behavior. "Whenever government begins removing structures built in waterways, some people accuse us of being inhumane," he stated. "Yet when disasters such as today's flooding occur, the consequences affect everyone." Flooding is a recurring issue during Ghana's rainy season, but residents report that inundations in the capital have worsened in recent years due to rapid urban development, the obstruction of waterways, and insufficient investment in drainage infrastructure.

Emergency responders and local volunteers utilized boats to rescue at least 15 children and an infant from the eastern suburb of Tse Addo, which was heavily inundated. In the low-lying Alajo district, the body of a man in his 60s was recovered, and floodwaters damaged vehicles and homes. Journalists in the area reported two additional fatalities resulting from rising waters coming into contact with electrical wiring within homes.

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Unfortunately, my house is flooded. I have mopped my room more than eight times. I can’t even step out because my room is flooded, and outside is flooded.

The Ministry of the Interior urged residents to avoid non-essential travel as police, military, and firefighters were deployed to aid in rescue efforts. The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, home to over five million people, frequently experiences disruptions to transport, damage to property, and loss of life during periods of heavy rainfall. Retired journalist Philip Mensah, 67, lamented that his "1970s collection of vinyl records is now underwater," while schoolteacher Patience Naa Adjeley Adjei described spending hours trying to keep water out of her flooded room, having mopped it more than eight times.

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my 1970s collection of vinyl records is now underwater