Three – rainstorm victims, including a child, have been confirmed dead in the Adentan Municipality after hours of torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding in Accra on Sunday, May 18.
Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Adentan, Ella Esiman Nongo, confirmed the fatalities in an interview with Accra – based Citi FM, noting that the victims were discovered in separate communities across the municipality.
“In Lakeside, we lost two people, including a four-year-old girl at Nanakrom, and a gentleman around New Legon,” Madam Nongo stated on Monday.
The rain, which began around 3:00 p.m. and lasted for nearly three hours, overwhelmed storm drains and submerged major roads, leaving numerous areas inaccessible. Hardest-hit parts of the capital included Weija, Kaneshie, Adabraka, Adenta-Dodowa, and sections of Tema and its surrounding towns.
The intense downpour caused key stormwater systems, such as the Odaw River drain, to overflow. This exacerbated flooding in several neighborhoods, stranding commuters and causing extensive property damage.
Emergency teams, according to the MCE, managed to reach residents trapped by floodwaters in the Ashiyie area, but she cautioned that more incidents could occur if longstanding challenges remain unaddressed.
“Because people are building on waterways, there is no exit route for the water when it rains. That’s one of the main challenges we’re facing,” she explained.
Madam Nongo emphasized the urgent need to enforce building regulations and implement infrastructure upgrades across flood-prone areas.
She also expressed concern about continued indiscipline in construction practices, especially in low-lying areas.
“If we don’t tackle the indiscipline in our building practices and enforce the rules, these tragedies will keep recurring,” she warned.
The Sunday flood is the latest in a series of annual incidents that underscore Accra’s vulnerability to heavy rains, particularly in unplanned urban communities.
Municipal authorities are expected to begin post-flood assessments this week and coordinate relief efforts for displaced or affected families.
