BY VALENTIA TETTEH
The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed that 7,761 households were displaced while 38,802 people were affected by the devastating floods that swept through parts of the Greater Accra Region and other areas following Monday’s torrential rains.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, the Minister said the disaster claimed the lives of 12 people, while seven others remained missing as emergency agencies continued search, rescue and recovery operations in affected communities.
The torrential rainfall, described by authorities as one of the heaviest to hit Accra in recent years, inundated more than 25 communities across 18 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), submerging homes and businesses, disrupting transportation, damaging public infrastructure and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
Among the worst-hit communities were Alajo, Adabraka, Circle, Kaneshie, Weija, Tse Addo, Ofankor, Pantang, Ashongman Estates and parts of the Tema Metropolis.
Providing an update to Parliament, Mr. Mohammed Mubarak said emergency response teams were still searching for missing persons while providing relief to affected communities.
“As of this morning, seven people are still missing. I have been at the Finance Committee for the past three hours, and I do not know whether many more have been found, but as of this morning, it is still seven, and 12 people are dead,” he told the House.
The Minister expressed government’s condolences to families who lost loved ones and assured Parliament that relief efforts were ongoing to support affected households.
He explained that the floods affected 25 communities across 18 MMDAs, including Ga East, Ledzokuku, Ayawaso Central, Ga Central, Ga West, Ablekuma North, Ningo-Prampram, Weija-Gbawe, Ga South, Adenta, Krowor, Okaikwei South, Okaikwei North, Tema West, Tema Metropolitan, La Dade-Kotopon and Kpone-Katamanso.
According to the Minister, Ga East recorded 2,000 displaced persons from 400 households, six missing persons and five fatalities. Ledzokuku recorded 1,200 displaced persons from 240 households and one death, while Ayawaso Central registered 3,021 displaced persons from 605 households, one missing person and three deaths.
Ga Central recorded 1,811 displaced persons from 363 households, while Ga West registered 2,300 displaced persons from 460 households, with no deaths or missing persons reported in either assembly.
The Minister further disclosed that Ablekuma North recorded 651 displaced persons from 131 households, Weija-Gbawe 2,500 displaced persons from 500 households, Ga South 2,100 displaced persons from 420 households, Adenta 1,850 displaced persons from 370 households, Krowor 6,500 displaced persons from 1,300 households, Okaikwei South 701 displaced persons from 141 households, and Okaikwei North 2,620 displaced persons from 524 households.
In Tema West, 3,450 people from 690 households were displaced, with three deaths recorded, while the Tema Metropolitan Assembly recorded 3,601 displaced persons from 721 households. La Dade-Kotopon recorded 2,020 displaced persons from 404 households, and Kpone-Katamanso recorded 1,100 displaced persons from 220 households, with no fatalities.
“When you put all these numbers together, we have a total of 7,761 households that were displaced, with 38,802 individuals affected, and seven persons still missing as of this morning,” the Minister stated.
Mr. Mohammed Mubarak assured Parliament that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and other emergency response agencies remain on the ground to support rescue, relief and recovery efforts in flood-affected communities.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and flood mitigation measures to minimise the impact of future flooding across the country.