Heavy downpour leads to severe flooding in Accra, Ghana
Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on March 7, 2023, leading to disrupted traffic, damaged roads, and casualties. As the city has been prone to flooding in recent years, officials have been discussing flood prevention measures, and President Mahama has emphasized the need for “drastic steps” to address the problem. However, with more heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours, concerns remain about the potential for further damage and loss of life.
- As of March 9, 2023, reports indicate that three people have died due to the flooding across the Greater Accra Region, with two fatalities in the Ngleshi Amanfro neighborhood and one more in Mallam West Town.
Accra, the capital city of Ghana, was hit by heavy rain lasting several hours on March 7, 2023, leading to flooding in many areas. According to the Ghana Meteorological Agency, southeastern Ghana was engulfed by a rain-bearing cloud that produced varying intensities of rainfall within the Volta region before moving to the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, Western, and some parts of the Ashanti regions.
The flooding severely impacted traffic and left several roads swamped, leading to a large amount of garbage being dumped on streets around Kwame Nkrumah Circle, according to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporations, the state broadcaster.
Local media reported that two young children died after a building collapsed in the Ngleshi Amanfro neighborhood in the western part of the city. Officials said that many homes in the area have been built in flood plains or in close proximity to drainage channels, making them more susceptible to flooding.
Media reports also indicated that one person died after being electrocuted by power cables in floodwater in a house in Mallam West.
Unfortunately, more heavy rainfall is forecast over southern and central Ghana over the next 24 hours, raising concerns about the potential for further flooding and damage.
Since 2015, officials have been discussing flood prevention measures in the city, particularly after dozens of people died in a petrol station fire while attempting to take shelter from flooding.
President Mahama had said at the time that the floods in Accra had been exacerbated by “uncontrolled human settlement” and “unbridled littering”.
He added that “drastic steps are necessary here if we are to permanently address this perennial problem” and pledged to intensify efforts to expand and modernize the drainage system.
References:
1 Ghana – Accra Floods Cause Damage and Fatalities – FloodList – March 8, 2023
2 Floods in Ghana – DG ECHO – March 9, 2023
Featured image credit: Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (stillshot)
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