More than 38,800 people have been displaced and 12 others killed following Monday’s (June 29) devastating floods that swept through parts of Greater Accra, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has revealed.
Presenting an update to Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, the Minister said the torrential downpour dumped 169 millimetres of rain in a single day, making it the fourth-highest daily rainfall recorded in Ghana since 1995.
According to him, government only received confirmation around midnight before the floods that the expected rainfall would be significantly heavier than earlier forecasts.
“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 millimeters of water in a day,” he told Parliament.
The floods affected 25 communities across 16 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), disrupting transportation and cutting off access to Accra’s Central Business District for many commuters.
The affected MMDAs include 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.
The Minister said 7,761 households were affected, leaving a total of 38,802 people displaced.
Korle Klottey recorded the highest number of displaced residents, with 6,500 people from 1,300 households forced from their homes. Tema Metropolitan Assembly followed with 3,601 displaced persons, Tema West with 3,450, and Ayawaso Central with 3,021.
Ga East recorded the highest death toll, with five fatalities and six people still missing. Ayawaso Central recorded three deaths and one missing person, while Tema Metropolitan Assembly reported three fatalities. Ledzokuku recorded one death.
In total, the floods have claimed 12 lives, with seven people still unaccounted for.
Mr. Muntaka extended the condolences of both government and Parliament to the bereaved families.
“Let me take this opportunity to extend our condolences and that of government to the families that lost their relatives,” he said.
He added that government has intensified emergency response efforts in the affected communities as relief and recovery operations continue.
Source: 3news
