Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former vice president, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in reaction to the destructive floods that have devastated certain areas of Accra.
Dr. Bawumia claims that the extent of the flooding and its effects on people, property, and companies necessitate an immediate national reaction that goes beyond standard disaster management procedures.
He called on the government to mobilise all available resources in order to implement long-term flood mitigation strategies and offer affected communities immediate relief.
The call was made in response to torrential rains that flooded a number of areas of the capital, submerging roads, uprooting locals, and interfering with business and travel.
While assessment teams continue to determine the extent of the damage, emergency services have been working to rescue those who have become stuck.
Dr Bawumia made this known when he toured some of the flood-prone districts in Accra.
He extended compassion to people who have lost loved ones, homes or livelihoods as a result of the floods. Additionally, he praised volunteers, first responders, and community members for helping victims in spite of challenging circumstances.
Declaring a state of emergency, he emphasised, would enable a more coordinated national response, speed up resource deployment, and expedite assistance operations for impacted households.
“What is worrying for me, is that the forecasts are forecasts of even more rains to come, if there is going to be more rain, I believe that the government could also consider even declaring a state of emergency so that we deal with this in that particular order. This is a really big problem for the country, and we have to put all our emergencies, all our talents, engineers, bring everybody together regardless of the political party,” Bawumia said.
In order to solve both the current problem and the root causes of recurrent floods, he also urged increased cooperation between governmental organisations, local governments, and disaster management organisations.
In order to lower the risk of future flooding in the capital, the former vice president also underlined the necessity of consistent investment in drainage infrastructure, enforcement of planning laws, and enhanced waste management.
Residents in flood-prone areas have been encouraged by authorities to stay alert, refrain from driving or walking on flooded roadways, and heed emergency services’ safety instructions.
As authorities strive to assist impacted communities and return things to normal, relief efforts are anticipated to continue.
In the meantime, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, Minister of the Interior, has declared that the terrible floods that ravaged portions of the Greater Accra Region have resulted in the displacement of over 38,800 individuals and the verified deaths of twelve.
Speaking to Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the Minister said that the flooding was among the worst weather conditions Ghana had seen in decades. He disclosed that the nation had the fourth-highest daily rainfall since 1995, with 169 mm of rain falling in a single day.
Muntaka states that officials had little time to bolster emergency readiness procedures because they were only notified late the night before that the anticipated rainfall would be significantly heavier than first predicted.
“By the time we got to the morning, we saw a volume that is the fourth highest that this country has ever seen since 1995. A volume of 169 millimetres of water in a day,” Muntaka told Parliament.
The torrential rains prompted significant flooding throughout 25 towns within 16 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), disrupting transportation and bringing economic activity in several sections of Accra to a standstill.
Commuters were unable to reach the Central Business District and other important locations due to the impassability of several main roadways.
Ga East, Ledzokuku, Ayawaso Central, Ga Central, Ga West, Ablekuma North, Ningo Prampram, Weija-Gbawe, Ga South, Adenta, Korle Klottey, Okaikwei South, Okaikwei North, Tema West, Tema Metropolitan Assembly, La Dade Kotopon, and Krowor are among the assembly impacted.
According to the Interior Minister’s thorough assessment of the catastrophe, 38,802 people were forced from their houses and 7,761 households were impacted by the floods.
With 6,500 people from 1,300 households impacted, Korle Klottey had the greatest number of displaced residents.
Tema West had 3,450 displaced individuals, while Tema Metropolitan Assembly followed with 3,601 displaced people. Significant effects were also felt in Ayawaso Central, where 3,021 people were relocated.
Source: newsthemegh.com