At least 12 people have been confirmed dead after torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding across Ghana, with the capital, Accra, among the hardest-hit areas.
Gatekeepers News reoort that rescue operations remained ongoing on Tuesday as emergency workers searched for missing persons and assisted stranded residents.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service, more than 470 people were rescued from floodwaters that submerged homes, roads and businesses across parts of the country. Officials said the victims included eight men, three women and one child.
Authorities reported that about 140 millimetres of rain fell on Accra in a single day, making it one of the heaviest rainfall events recorded in the city in recent years. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said the volume of rainfall was far higher than last year’s peak daily rainfall and linked the situation to changing climate conditions.
Floodwaters cut off access to several neighbourhoods in Accra and the nearby city of Tema, leaving residents stranded. Emergency services, supported by the military and police, were deployed to rescue affected residents and provide relief assistance.
The disaster was not limited to Ghana. Neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire also recorded deadly flooding following days of heavy rain, with reports indicating that more than a dozen people died in the commercial capital, Abidjan. The floods have highlighted the growing impact of extreme weather events across West Africa.
Ghana’s government has announced emergency funding for relief efforts, while authorities have warned residents to prepare for more rainfall in the coming days.
