At least 12 people have died and hundreds have been displaced following severe flooding that submerged large parts of Accra, Ghana’s capital, and surrounding communities.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirmed on Wednesday that the victims included eight men, three women and a child. The agency also said emergency responders rescued more than 470 people trapped by the floodwaters.
President John Dramani Mahama, who visited affected areas, said preliminary weather reports showed that Accra recorded 140 millimetres of rainfall during the downpour.
According to him, the rainfall was the heaviest recorded in years, far exceeding the 56 millimetres recorded during the peak of the 2025 rainy season.
Mahama attributed the scale of the flooding partly to changing climate conditions and announced the release of 300 million cedis (about $27 million) for emergency relief and recovery efforts.
He also directed the Ghana Armed Forces and the Police Service to work with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to intensify rescue operations and support affected residents.
Flooding remains a recurring challenge in Accra during the rainy season, with experts often linking the problem to poor drainage systems, blocked waterways and unregulated urban development.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Ivory Coast is also battling severe flooding. Although authorities have yet to release an official casualty figure, emergency sources and interior ministry officials said at least 20 people have died in the country.
