Monday’s rains highest in several years — Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has described Monday's torrential rainfall in Accra as one of the most intense the capital has experienced in recent years, warning that increasing rainfall, poor urban planning and human activities are worsening the city's flood situation.

Speaking after an aerial inspection of flood-affected communities on June 29, the President said the volume of rainfall recorded within a single day far exceeded levels seen in previous years.

"Today's rainfall is one of the highest in several years," he said, noting that approximately 140 millimetres of rain fell in Accra in one day, compared with the highest daily figure of 56 millimetres recorded last year.

President Mahama said data from the Ghana Meteorological Agency indicates that rainfall intensity has been increasing steadily over the past three years. He explained that total rainfall recorded in June rose from 85 millimetres in 2024 to 172 millimetres in 2025 before reaching 333 millimetres in 2026.

According to him, the increasing frequency and intensity of rainfall leave drainage systems with little time to recover between storms, making flooding more severe across the capital.

The President said the flooding cannot be attributed solely to changing weather patterns, pointing to rapid urbanisation and uncontrolled development as major contributing factors.

He noted that natural drainage channels have been narrowed or obstructed by construction on waterways, significantly reducing their capacity to carry stormwater during heavy rains.

President Mahama also blamed indiscriminate waste disposal and the conversion of wetlands into dumping grounds and building sites for aggravating the flood situation.

He stressed that addressing the recurring floods will require a combination of improved drainage infrastructure, better engineering solutions and strict enforcement of planning regulations.

The President said authorities must take decisive action to remove obstructions from waterways, adding that although enforcement measures may be unpopular, they are necessary to protect lives, property and communities from future flood disasters.