President John Dramani Mahama has expressed sympathy to victims affected by Monday’s devastating floods in Accra and announced a series of immediate and long-term measures aimed at addressing the perennial flooding challenge in the capital.
Speaking after an aerial inspection of flood-affected communities, the President described the damage as extensive and said many families had suffered significant losses following one of the heaviest rainfall events recorded in recent years.
“I wish to express my deepest sympathy to all those who have lost property as a result of today’s floods. The damage has been extensive, and many families have been severely affected,” he said.
President Mahama disclosed that preliminary data showed approximately 140 millimetres of rainfall fell on Accra on Monday, compared with the highest single-day rainfall of about 56 millimetres recorded in 2025.
He attributed the worsening flooding situation to a combination of climate change, inadequate drainage infrastructure and human activities.
According to the President, rainfall patterns over the past three years indicated a sharp increase in precipitation, citing data from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), which showed that rainfall in June had risen from about 85 millimetres in 2024 to 172 millimetres in 2025 and approximately 333 millimetres in 2026.
He explained that the increasing frequency of rainfall allowed little time for waterways to recover between storms, worsening flooding across the city.
President Mahama said engineering interventions were urgently needed to restore the natural flow of streams into the Atlantic Ocean, noting that rapid urbanisation had obstructed many of the city’s waterways.
He also blamed indiscriminate dumping of refuse and illegal developments on wetlands for aggravating the flooding situation.
The President said aerial surveillance revealed several wetlands had been turned into illegal refuse dumping sites before being reclaimed and sold for housing development.
“We must therefore tackle this challenge from both an engineering and an enforcement perspective by opening blocked channels and identifying structures obstructing the natural flow of water,” he said.
President Mahama announced that the National Security Council would meet urgently to address the issue, while Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies would be directed to identify structures obstructing major drainage channels for demolition.
He said government would ensure that demolished structures and debris were completely removed to restore the free flow of water.
The President also outlined a long-term strategy to decongest Accra by relocating some government institutions outside the capital and developing a new growth centre over the next 20 years, supported with essential infrastructure, including roads, water and electricity.
He commended the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, emergency response teams and the 48 Engineers Regiment for their swift rescue operations.
President Mahama said he had directed NADMO to identify affected victims and provide immediate assistance, while the Minister for Finance had been instructed to release funds from the Contingency Fund to support post-flood relief efforts.
He urged Ghanaians to adopt responsible sanitation practices, desist from dumping refuse into drains and avoid developing in flood-prone areas.
“We must find a permanent solution to the flooding challenge in Accra,” the President said, adding that lasting action was needed to end the recurring cycle of destructive floods.
