Floods kill 17, displace 39,000 in Ghana's Greater Accra Region

Africa, Weather

ACCRA, Ghana (Agency Report) — At least 17 people have died while nearly 39,000 others have been affected by devastating floods triggered by Monday’s heavy rainfall across Ghana’s Greater Accra Region, the government has said.

Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, disclosed the figures while briefing Parliament on Tuesday, saying the floods displaced 7,761 households across 29 affected communities within 18 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

The minister said the disaster submerged homes, damaged roads and public infrastructure, displaced thousands of families and disrupted economic and social activities across the capital region.

“Within the Greater Accra Region, we recorded a total of 7,761 displaced households, affecting 38,802 people. Seventeen people have lost their lives, while several others remain unaccounted for,” Muntaka told lawmakers.

Ga East was among the worst-hit districts, recording 8,202 displaced residents from 881 households. The area also accounted for six missing persons and four confirmed deaths.

Other severely affected areas include Kwabenya, where 4,800 people from 1,000 households were displaced; Tema Metropolitan, which recorded 3,847 displaced persons from 771 households; Tema West, with 3,040 displaced residents from 650 households; and Weija Gbawe, where 2,817 people from 480 households were forced from their homes.

Across Central, East and West Accra, authorities recorded 3,025 displaced persons from 605 households, while Dade Kotopon reported 2,700 displaced residents from 510 households. Ga South also recorded 1,800 displaced persons from 375 households.

The minister said emergency responders, led by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), remain on the ground coordinating rescue operations, relief distribution and recovery efforts for affected communities.

He said further assessments were ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage and provide additional assistance to displaced families.

Monday’s torrential rainfall inundated residential communities, swept away vehicles, temporarily cut off major roads and forced thousands of residents to seek temporary shelter.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid flood-prone areas and comply with safety directives as recovery operations continue across the Greater Accra Region.