The death toll from Monday’s devastating floods in Greater Accra has risen to 12, with more than 38,800 persons displaced, Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has confirmed.
Presenting an official update to Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, the Minister disclosed that the torrential rainfall, which measured 169 millimetres in a single day, ranks as the fourth-highest daily rainfall recorded in Ghana since 1995.
Mr. Muntaka revealed that government agencies only received confirmation of the rainfall’s intensity at approximately midnight on the eve of the disaster, too late to mount a comprehensive pre-dawn response.
“By the time we got to the morning, we saw a volume that is the fourth highest that this country has ever seen since 1995. A volume of 169 millimetres of water in a day,” he told the House.
The floods affected 25 communities across 16 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), severely disrupting transportation and effectively cutting off access to Accra’s Central Business District for much of the day.
The affected assemblies include Ga East, Ledzokuku, Ayawaso Central, Ga Central, Ga West, Ablekuma North, Ningo Prampram, Weija-Gbawe, Ga South, Adenta, Korle Klottey, Okaikwei South, Okaikwei North, Tema West, Tema Metropolitan Assembly, La Dade Kotopon and Krowor.
According to the Minister, the disaster impacted 7,761 households, displacing a total of 38,802 persons.
Korle Klottey recorded the highest number of displaced persons, with 6,500 individuals from 1,300 households affected.
It was followed by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly: 3,601 displaced, Tema West: 3,450 displaced and Ayawaso Central: 3,021 displaced
On casualties, Ga East recorded the highest death toll, with five fatalities and six persons still missing. Ayawaso Central recorded three deaths and one missing person, while Tema Metropolitan Assembly also recorded three fatalities. Ledzokuku recorded one death.
In total, seven persons remain unaccounted for, bringing the overall number of affected individuals to 38,802.
The Interior Minister extended the condolences of both the government and Parliament to the families of the deceased.
“Let me take this opportunity to extend our condolences and that of the government to the families that lost their relatives,” he said.
The Minister assured Parliament that emergency response efforts have been intensified across the affected communities, with relief operations continuing under the coordination of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
Monday’s floods rank among the most severe weather events to hit the capital in nearly three decades. The 169mm rainfall total surpassed most forecasts, catching both residents and authorities off guard.
The government has since pledged a review of early warning systems and drainage infrastructure in the wake of the disaster.
