Ministry of the Interior Issues Emergency Flood Alert for Greater Accra as GMet Plans Nationwide SMS Warning System

The Ministry of the Interior has issued an urgent emergency alert for residents of the Greater Accra Region, warning of potential flooding due to forecasted moderate rainfall on Monday, July 6. Meteorologists anticipate a 40 percent chance of rain between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., specifically targeting low-lying and flood-prone areas. This advisory follows recent flooding incidents that caused significant property damage and displacement across the capital. Motorists and pedestrians are strongly cautioned against traversing floodwaters, as rising water levels continue to pose life-threatening risks to those in transit during the early morning hours.

In a move to modernize disaster preparedness, the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has announced plans to launch a nationwide mobile alert system by the end of the year. Director-General Dr. Eric Asuman revealed that the agency is collaborating with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and various telecommunications companies to send weather warnings directly to citizens via SMS. This initiative coincides with recent findings by the Council of State and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), who discovered a massive illegal dumping site on encroached wetlands in Mallam. Officials noted that such environmental violations contribute significantly to the drainage blockages that exacerbate flooding in the Weija-Gbawe municipality.

In the Volta Region, technical experts have taken proactive measures to manage rising water levels affecting communities along the Keta Lagoon. A team of engineers, in consultation with Keta Municipal Chief Executive Wisdom Seade, successfully opened the Kedzi-Azizadzi floodgate at Havedzi to allow lagoon water to flow into the sea. Despite these efforts, the humanitarian impact remains severe; the Ghana News Agency reports that seventy persons with disabilities (PWDs) across nine communities in Keta have been displaced or lost access to basic necessities. Local leaders are calling for immediate government and NGO intervention to provide food, clothing, and shelter to these vulnerable groups as the Department of Social Welfare updates its relief database.

The weather outlook remains unstable across the rest of the country, with GMet predicting widespread thunderstorms and rain for the Northern and Transition belts. A rainstorm moving west from the Nigeria-Benin border is expected to bring varying intensities of precipitation to Tamale, Yendi, and surrounding areas. Coastal communities are also advised to prepare for rough sea conditions, which may impact maritime activities. As the rainy season intensifies, authorities continue to urge public vigilance and adherence to safety directives to mitigate the perennial threat of flood-related disasters.