Several residential areas across the national capital were flooded following Sunday’s downpour
The Ghana Hydrological Authority has attributed the flooding in parts of Accra on Sunday, May 18, 2025, to illegal structures built on waterways and wetlands, which obstructed natural drainage paths.
Director of Drains at the Hydrological Authority, Richard Amekor revealed that assessments conducted after the heavy rains showed that unapproved constructions were a primary cause of the floods.
“What we picked out on the ground has to do with a lot of illegal buildings on our waterways. People have built on the wetlands and encroached on our water bodies. These are the major things we gathered on the ground today after yesterday’s heavy rains, which caused flooding in some parts of Accra,” he is quoted in a report by myjoyonline.com.
Amekor stressed the urgency of addressing the issue as Ghana approaches the peak of the rainy season, echoing President John Mahama’s directive to demolish structures obstructing drainage systems.
“If you could recall, the President in his speech said that those people living close to our drains, their structures are going to be pulled down to allow water to flow when it rains,” he stated.
He urged residents in affected areas, such as Weija, to vacate and relocate to prevent future disasters.
“They need to leave those places; they are not supposed to be there. For example, in Weija, people are building in the estuary, which is wrong. If they are there and it rains, where will the water go? It will go into their homes, and this is the challenge we are having,” he explained.
Amekor called for stricter control over development to mitigate flooding risks, stating, “So what I am saying is that it is about time we control our development.”
GA
After the heavy rains over the weekend, a lot of debris have been left across many parts of Accra. Watch some of the destructions below:
