Mahama orders emergency flood relief as NPP demands overhaul of Accra flood response
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President John Dramani Mahama has ordered immediate emergency assistance for flood victims and called for long-term reforms to tackle Accra’s recurring flooding, while the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s response and demanded structural changes to flood management.
ACCRA, Ghana — President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate release of emergency funding to support victims of devastating floods across parts of Greater Accra, while urging authorities to move beyond short-term responses and implement lasting measures to address the capital’s recurring flooding crisis.
The directive came after the President conducted aerial and ground assessments of flood-affected communities following torrential rainfall that inundated homes, businesses and major roads. The flooding claimed at least nine lives, displaced families and caused extensive damage to property, according to official information cited in the reports.
Mahama instructed the Minister for Finance to immediately release resources from the government’s Contingency Fund to finance emergency relief for affected residents. He said the assistance would be coordinated through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and would include temporary shelter, food, essential household supplies and humanitarian support while damage assessments continue.
“I’ve asked the Minister of Finance to release some money from the contingency fund so that we can do some post-flood relief for persons who have been affected,” the President said during his visit to affected communities.
The president calls for permanent flood solutions
While announcing the emergency response, Mahama stressed that Ghana must break what he described as a cycle of reacting to disasters only after they occur.
“Let us change our attitude. Let us find a permanent solution to this Accra flooding problem,” he said, comparing the country’s approach to a person who delays repairing a leaking roof until after the rains have stopped.
The President said sustained investment in drainage infrastructure, improved urban planning and long-term flood mitigation measures were essential if Accra were to reduce its vulnerability to increasingly frequent flooding. He also expressed sympathy to families who had lost relatives, homes and livelihoods while commending the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, NADMO and other emergency responders for rescuing stranded residents.
Communities including Alajo, Kaneshie, Circle, Adabraka, Weija, Odawna, parts of Tema and East Legon were among the areas severely affected after hours of heavy rainfall submerged roads, disrupted transport and forced residents from their homes.
Presidency issues nationwide safety advisory
As floodwaters continued to affect several communities, the Presidency issued a public safety advisory urging residents in flood-prone areas to remain indoors where it was safe to do so and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improved.
The advisory warned motorists not to attempt driving through floodwaters and specifically advised drivers to avoid flood-prone routes, including the Mallam–Kasoa Road, Alajo and Graphic Road. Residents whose homes had become inundated were urged to move immediately to higher ground and contact emergency services using the published emergency numbers.
The Presidency also advised the public to unplug electrical appliances where flooding posed a risk, avoid contact with damaged electrical infrastructure and continue monitoring official updates as emergency agencies responded to the situation. The accompanying safety graphics emphasised that floodwaters can conceal open drains and wash away road surfaces, posing significant risks to motorists and pedestrians alike.
Opposition criticises government’s response
The government’s response has also drawn criticism from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which accused the administration of weak coordination and ineffective flood management.
In a statement signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party said recurring flooding demonstrated failures in planning and implementation and argued that responsibilities for flood management were fragmented across multiple institutions.
The NPP called for flood management responsibilities to be consolidated under a single lead authority, greater transparency over the operations of the national anti-flood task force and closer collaboration between central government, local assemblies and technical experts to address drainage, sanitation and land-use challenges.
The party also rejected suggestions that public behaviour alone was responsible for flooding, insisting that government should accept primary responsibility for flood management policies while expressing sympathy to affected families.
A recurring challenge
Accra has experienced repeated flooding during heavy rainfall over many years, with experts frequently identifying inadequate drainage infrastructure, construction on waterways, rapid urbanisation, poor waste management and weak enforcement of planning regulations as major contributing factors.
The latest flooding has once again highlighted the scale of the challenge facing Ghana’s capital. While emergency relief efforts are under way, both government and opposition figures agree that lasting engineering, environmental and planning reforms will be required to reduce the risk of future disasters.
For thousands of residents affected by the latest floods, however, the immediate priority remains access to shelter, essential services and support as recovery operations continue across the Greater Accra Region.
Key Developments
Death toll
At least nine deaths reported
Relief
Finance Minister directed to release Contingency Fund resources
Lead agency
NADMO coordinating emergency assistance
Safety advice
Residents urged to stay indoors and avoid floodwaters
Major affected areas
Alajo, Kaneshie, Circle, Adabraka, Weija, Odawna, Tema and East Legon
Opposition response
NPP calls for overhaul of flood management
Long-term policy
Mahama calls for permanent flood mitigation measures
Why this matters
The floods have once again exposed the vulnerability of Ghana’s capital to extreme rainfall and renewed debate over urban planning, drainage infrastructure and disaster preparedness. While emergency assistance is expected to address immediate humanitarian needs, the political focus is already shifting towards whether successive governments have done enough to tackle the structural causes of Accra’s recurring floods.
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