Powerful rainstorms have swept through Ghana, triggering widespread flooding that has claimed the lives of at least 12 people, according to the Ghana National Fire Service, which announced the death toll on Tuesday while noting that rescue efforts remain active.
Among those who lost their lives, the fire service confirmed that three were women, eight were men, and one was a child. Rescuers have pulled more than 470 people to safety so far, and officials said they would continue providing updated figures as additional casualties are confirmed.
President John Dramani Mahama said early measurements showed approximately 140 millimetres of rain had fallen on Accra — the highest rainfall total recorded in the city in several years. For context, he noted that the highest single-day rainfall recorded the previous year was roughly 56 millimetres.
Mahama attributed the extreme rainfall to shifting climate conditions, describing the event as something beyond the government’s ability to prevent.
Flooding in Accra is a recurring problem during the rainy season. Experts have long pointed to inadequate drainage systems, illegal construction along waterways, and poor urban planning as factors that consistently make the flooding worse when heavy rains arrive.
In a formal statement Tuesday, a government spokesperson announced that 300 million cedis — roughly $27 million — would be made available to support flood relief efforts.
President Mahama also directed Ghana Armed Forces and police personnel to be deployed alongside the National Disaster Management Organisation and other agencies to assist with rescue and relief work throughout the capital.
The flooding has not been limited to Ghana. Neighboring Ivory Coast has also experienced severe rainfall. While officials there have not released an official death toll, a source with ties to firefighters and the interior minister indicated that approximately 20 people have died.
