Torrential rains paralyse Accra as floods swamp homes, roads and businesses

Hours of torrential rainfall that began around 10:00 p.m. on Sunday and persisted into Monday morning unleashed widespread flooding across Accra and parts of the Greater Accra Region, leaving major roads submerged, displacing residents, disrupting businesses, and prompting large scale emergency response operations.

Several parts of the capital were inundated after drains and waterways overflowed, sending floodwaters into residential communities and commercial centres. The floods disrupted transportation, stranded commuters, and forced many residents to abandon their homes for safer locations.

Among the worst affected areas was the Kasoa to SCC to Mallam highway, where large sections of the road disappeared beneath floodwaters. The flooding brought traffic to a standstill, leaving hundreds of motorists trapped for hours, while others abandoned their vehicles as water levels continued to rise.

Several feeder roads connecting surrounding communities also became impassable, cutting off access to residential areas and disrupting movement across the metropolis.

The flooding extended into homes in several communities, damaging household property and forcing many families to seek shelter on higher ground after floodwaters swept through their residences.

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) swiftly deployed emergency response teams to affected communities to rescue stranded residents and assist those displaced by the floods.

Using boats and other rescue equipment, emergency personnel evacuated vulnerable residents, including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, from flooded homes.

NADMO also dispatched assessment teams to evaluate the extent of the destruction and coordinate relief support for affected households.

The prolonged downpour severely disrupted the Monday morning commute as flooded roads and heavy congestion prevented many workers from reaching their workplaces.

Public transport services were equally affected, with several commercial drivers suspending operations on routes rendered inaccessible by the floods.

In response to the worsening conditions, Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka directed employers to allow staff to work remotely where possible, urging institutions to prioritise the safety of their employees.

He advised employers not to compel workers to travel through flooded areas and appealed to the public to avoid driving or walking through floodwaters.

As emergency operations intensified, the Ghana National Fire Service reminded residents to use official emergency lines and provide accurate location details and working telephone numbers when requesting assistance to facilitate faster rescue operations.

The flooding also affected critical power infrastructure, prompting the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to temporarily shut down electricity supply from the Mallam and Achimota primary substations.

According to the two institutions, the precautionary measure was necessary to protect lives, prevent damage to vital equipment, and safeguard the integrity of the electricity network following severe flooding at the substations.

The impact of the heavy rains extended beyond Accra. In neighbouring Togo, flooding was reported in communities including Kodjoviakopé, Nyekonakpoé, Djagblé, and Adétikopé in Lomé.

Within Ghana, major transport corridors were also affected, with sections of the Winneba to Cape Coast road rendered impassable, leaving commuters stranded for several hours. Similar traffic disruptions were recorded along the Accra to Kumasi highway.

To strengthen ongoing rescue efforts, the Ghana Armed Forces deployed personnel to flood-affected communities under an emergency operation code-named Operation Boafo.

The operation, led by the 48 Engineer Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Frank Osei Amponsah, has seen military personnel stationed at strategic locations, including Klagon, Tse Addo, and Dzowulu, to support rescue, evacuation, and relief operations.

Authorities have urged residents, particularly those living in low-lying and flood-prone communities, to remain vigilant, monitor official weather updates, and cooperate with emergency agencies as rainfall is expected to continue in some areas.

Emergency agencies say coordinated rescue, relief, and assessment operations will continue as efforts intensify to restore normalcy, assess the full extent of the damage, and provide assistance to affected communities across the capital and other impacted areas.