A girl and three others died in heavy Accra rain – MCE

Three people, including a child, sadly lost their lives after heavy rain on Sunday, May 18, 2025, caused flash floods in parts of Accra.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Adentan Municipal Assembly.

Madam Ella Esinam Nongo confirmed the deaths in an interview with Citi FM on Monday, May 19.

“In Lakeside, we lost two people, including a four-year-old girl at Nanakrom and a gentleman around New Legon,”.

she said, as reported by citinewsroom.com.

The rain started around 3:00 p.m. and lasted for almost three hours, flooding many parts of the city. Roads were under water, cars got stuck, and several properties were destroyed.

The most affected areas included Weija, Kaneshie, Adabraka, Adenta-Dodowa, and parts of Tema.

One of Accra’s main drains, the Odaw River, overflowed because of the huge amount of rainwater, worsening the flooding in nearby communities.

Emergency teams were quickly sent to rescue people, and Madam Nongo confirmed that many residents who were trapped in the Ashiyie area were safely rescued by Sunday night.

Still, the damage in many neighbourhoods is serious, and people living in flood-prone zones remain in danger.

Talking about the cause of the flooding, the MCE blamed poor drainage and unapproved buildings on waterways.

“Because people are building on waterways, there is no exit route for the water when it rains. That’s one of the main challenges we’re facing. There is a need for stricter enforcement of building regulations,” she explained.

She is calling on the government for urgent support and wants the city to take the issue seriously this time. She believes that proper urban planning and stronger enforcement of laws are needed to stop these disasters from happening again.

Nonetheless, the extent of the damage across various neighborhoods remains significant, and many residents in flood-prone areas continue to be at risk.