By Erestinah Jane | June 30, 2026
At least 13 people have died after torrential rains triggered severe flash flooding across Ghana’s capital, Accra, leaving thousands stranded, damaging homes and businesses, and disrupting transport and electricity supply.
The flooding followed an intense overnight downpour that began on Sunday, June 28, and continued into Monday, June 29, with the Ghana Meteorological Agency reporting approximately 140 millimetres of rainfall within a short period—one of the heaviest rainfall events recorded in the capital in recent years.
The resulting floods inundated major roads, residential estates, markets and commercial centres, bringing large sections of the city to a standstill.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirmed that at least 13 people lost their lives during the disaster.
Among the victims were a married couple, a woman and her child who were swept away by fast-moving floodwaters in the Achimota–Agbogbloshie area, while others reportedly died after coming into contact with live electrical installations submerged beneath floodwaters.
Emergency response teams comprising the Ghana National Fire Service, police, military personnel and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) launched large-scale rescue operations across the capital.
Using rescue boats, pumps and specialised equipment, emergency crews evacuated more than 470 residents who had become trapped inside flooded homes, vehicles and commercial buildings or had sought refuge on rooftops while awaiting rescue.
Authorities said dozens of families were forced to abandon their homes after floodwaters rose rapidly overnight, while several motorists became stranded after roads were rendered impassable.
The floods also triggered secondary emergencies across the city.
Firefighters battled a major blaze at a rubber factory near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, but rescue efforts were hampered by floodwaters that slowed the movement of emergency vehicles and made access to the affected area difficult.
The disaster also affected Ghana’s electricity network.
The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) temporarily shut down electricity supply to several flooded substations to minimise the risk of electrocution and protect critical infrastructure.
Following an aerial assessment of the affected areas, President John Dramani Mahama attributed the scale of the disaster to poor urban drainage, indiscriminate dumping of waste into drainage channels and widespread construction on waterways and floodplains.
The President directed relevant government agencies to begin demolishing illegal structures obstructing natural watercourses and stormwater drainage systems, saying stronger enforcement of planning regulations would be necessary to reduce future flood risks.
The government also acknowledged shortcomings in urban planning and emergency preparedness, apologised to affected residents and announced emergency relief assistance for displaced families.
Relief agencies have begun distributing food, drinking water, bedding and other essential supplies to flood victims while engineers continue assessing damage to roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Meteorological Agency has warned that additional heavy rainfall is expected over the coming days as another storm system approaches from the east.
Authorities have advised residents living in flood-prone and low-lying communities to remain vigilant, move to higher ground where necessary and strictly follow evacuation directives issued by emergency services.
Disaster management officials have also urged motorists to avoid driving through flooded roads, warning that rapidly moving floodwaters continue to pose a significant risk to life and property.
