By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
Accra, the capital of Ghana, and surrounding areas have experienced a devastating flood after torrential and consistent rainfall caused chaos with flooding, leading to serious damage and losses. Yet, the rain is not letting go. Only on Monday, the country recorded about 140 millimeters of rainfall in Accra. But throughout the year 2025, the highest rainfall recorded in Ghana was 56 millimeters. That is to say that on Monday, Accra recorded two and a half times more rain than the highest rainfall recorded last year. This situation, the President, John Dramani Mahama, regretted, is beyond the control of the government in one part. “That aspect of the problem is beyond our control because it is driven by changing climate conditions,” President Mahama said.
The severe flood in Accra also extended to Tema and nearby areas. According to Ghana’s Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Kenneth Adejei, “Since 27 June 2026, Accra, Tema, and surrounding areas have experienced sustained heavy rains, leading to widespread flooding that has affected homes, businesses, and public infrastructure, particularly in low-lying areas, and disrupted economic and social activities.”
On Monday, President Mahama joined the Anti-Flood Task Force to observe the extent of the flood disaster, which submerged some homes and roads, causing severe panic among the populace.
Aside from natural causes, President John Mahama also acknowledged that there is another aspect to the flood relating to “issues with human behaviour.” However, the president lamented that “Whenever government begins removing structures built in waterways, some people accuse us of being inhumane. Yet, when disasters such as today occur, the consequences affect everyone.”
Recent flooding in Kenya was also blamed on unplanned development, which had blocked waterways with buildings, forcing floods to chart their own course and leading to disaster. Different parts of Africa face a flood challenge tied to unregulated structural development, which causes severe environmental and ecological problems. This is a failure of law and order that African countries must address at the root.
