Heavy Rains Submerge Parts of Accra: Residents Stranded as GMet Issues Fresh Warning

Several parts of the Greater Accra Region were left underwater on Tuesday afternoon following a heavy downpour that brought the capital to a standstill.

The rains, which started around 2 p.m., caused severe flooding at key locations including the Ridge Roundabout near the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, where stranded motorists and pedestrians struggled to move through the rising waters.

At Taifa Junction, floodwaters inundated streets and forced residents to seek refuge on higher ground. Eyewitness videos circulating on social media showed vehicles battling through submerged roads while some commuters waded through the floodwaters to safety.

The flooding led to massive traffic congestion, with long queues of vehicles stretching across connecting routes in Ridge, Taifa, and surrounding suburbs.

The heavy rains overwhelmed the city’s drainage systems, rendering several areas impassable and once again exposing Accra’s vulnerability to perennial flooding. The situation has renewed public outcry over the capital’s inadequate drainage infrastructure and the urgent need for sustainable, long-term flood management solutions.

Meteorological Warning

In response to the worsening weather conditions, the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) issued a fresh advisory, warning that a moderate to heavy rain-bearing cloud currently over the Eastern Region is expected to drift southwestwards into the Greater Accra Region this afternoon.

GMet cautioned that the intensity of rainfall will vary across the capital and urged residents to take precautionary measures. These include avoiding outdoor activities during the rains, staying indoors and away from windows during thunderstorms, unplugging electrical appliances to prevent lightning damage, and refraining from using corded phones or powered devices.

For those caught outdoors, GMet advised seeking immediate shelter in substantial structures. Drivers were also urged to exercise extreme caution — reduce speed, use headlights for better visibility, and avoid flooded sections of the road.

Commuters have appealed to city authorities to act swiftly to resolve Accra’s flooding problem, stressing that lives and livelihoods continue to be endangered whenever heavy rains hit the capital.