Rescue Efforts Underway

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNF) reported that more than 470 people have been rescued so far. Low-lying areas were particularly impacted, with videos on social media showing homes and vehicles submerged and many buildings destroyed. Emergency response teams, including police, fire service, the military, and the National Disaster Management Organisation, have been deployed to monitor the situation and safeguard lives and property.

Climate Change and Unplanned Urbanisation

Preliminary data indicated that around 140mm of rain descended on Accra, according to Mahama, who noted that the highest single-day rainfall recorded last year was about 56 mm. The increase pointed to climate change. The Ghana Meteorological Agency warned that more rain was expected to affect parts of southern Ghana on Tuesday morning into the afternoon, raising the risk of further flooding. Accra, one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities with a population of more than four million, faces challenges from a poor drainage system, including clogged gutters and the construction of illegal structures on waterways.

Residents Describe the Impact

Resident Philip Mensah said his house had been flooded, telling AFP that his “1970s collection of vinyl records is now underwater.” Schoolteacher Patience Naa Adjeley Adjei said she had spent hours trying to keep water out of her room. “I have mopped my room more than eight times,” she told AFP. “I can’t even step out because my room is flooded, and outside is flooded.” The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have temporarily shut down power supply to parts of the capital affected by the floods as a precautionary measure. In a joint statement, they said the shutdown was “necessary” because the flooding affected power infrastructure at multiple substations, “posing significant risks to both electrical equipment and operational personnel.”

The president ordered the demolition of all illegal structures after an aerial tour of the city on Monday. In 2015, Accra experienced similar floods which triggered an explosion at a fuel station, resulting in 150 deaths. WaterAid Ghana’s director Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur called for “stronger urban planning and preparedness measures, to safeguard communities before, during and after extreme weather events.” What we are witnessing in Accra is not an isolated weather event, but part of a pattern intensified by climate change and rapid, unplanned urbanisation, she said.

The government has called for people to relocate to higher safe grounds and to avoid travelling in flooded areas. “Stay indoors if you are in a safe location,” the president’s office said in a statement. “Do not attempt to cross flooded roads, whether on foot or in a vehicle. If your home is being inundated, move immediately to higher ground and call 112 for emergency assistance.” The Ghana Meteorological Agency advised avoiding sheltering under trees, staying clear of loose electrical wires, and not walking or driving through floodwaters.