International media reports on June 29 Accra floods
via GhanaWeb4 min read
On Monday, June 29, 2026, Ghana's capital, Accra, and other southern communities experienced severe flooding due to heavy rainfall. The floods submerged homes, businesses, lorry parks, and streets in areas like Circle and Weija. Official reports indicate 12 fatalities and hundreds displaced. International media outlets, including the New York Post, Al Jazeera, and Reuters, covered the incident. DW Africa reported major road submergence, traffic disruptions, and ongoing rescue operations, noting a fire at a rubber factory near Kwame Nkrumah Circle. The New York Post highlighted residents climbing rooftops, while Al Jazeera focused on the fire and floods leaving residents stranded and facing power cuts.
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President John Dramani Mahama has issued five key directives to tackle the recurring flooding in Accra, following a visit to affected communities. In a press statement released on June 30, 2026, President Mahama emphasized the need for a change in public attitude towards sanitation, waste disposal, and unauthorized development in flood-prone areas. He highlighted data from the Ghana Meteorological Agency, showing a significant increase in rainfall intensity, with Accra recording 85mm in June 2024, 172mm in 2025, and 333mm in 2026 for the same period. The President stated that while climate change is a factor, human and engineering issues, such as the blockage of natural streams, also contribute to the problem. He stressed the necessity of stronger enforcement measures, despite potential criticism of government efforts to remove illegal structures. The directives include: an emergency meeting of the National Security Council; collaboration between Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies and the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to map obstructions; demolition of buildings blocking waterways and clearance of debris; the National Disaster Management Organisation to provide relief support; and the Minister of Finance to release contingency funds for relief and infrastructure repairs. These measures come after heavy rainfall on June 28 and 29, 2026, caused widespread flooding, submerging major roads and disrupting daily activities across Accra.
Police in Accra were captured on video pursuing residents who were carrying groceries from a warehouse affected by devastating floods on June 29, 2026. The footage, shared on X on June 30, 2026, shows individuals running from a police vehicle as officers moved to retrieve goods. Sacks filled with assorted items, confiscated by the police, were also visible. This incident occurred after heavy rains caused widespread flooding, loss of lives, and extensive property damage across the Greater Accra Region.
Must ReadThe Ghana National Fire Service GNFS has confirmed that 12 people have died and more than 150 individuals have been rescued following severe floods in parts of the Greater Accra Region on June 29, 2026. Alex Nartey, a member of the GNFS Public Relations Department, stated that rescue operations were conducted in communities including Kasoa, Taifa, Weija, and Dome. The confirmed death toll includes a mother and her husband in Tema New Town, one person in Alajo, a woman and child in Achimota Alogboshie, four people in Odawna, and one person in Achimota Abofu. Nartey noted that the actual number of casualties could be higher as some individuals are still missing. He emphasized that while drainage infrastructure improvements are important, public attitude towards environmental sanitation, particularly indiscriminate waste disposal, remains a significant factor contributing to recurrent flooding.