Residents of Accra, the nation’s capital, have been warned by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT) that additional flooding incidents are likely to occur after recent heavy rains.
Following last Friday’s torrential downpour, which submerged many areas of Accra and caused havoc on its streets, the agency has issued a warning.
In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, Joseph Portuphy, the Head of Forecasting at the GMeT, revealed that the downpour’s record rainfall was a staggering 78 millimeters, which helped to explain the widespread flooding throughout the city.
Portuphy emphasized that whenever rainfall totals exceeded 50 millimeters in a period of two to three hours, Accra would experience severe flooding conditions.
“If we have rain above 50 millimetres within two to three hours, Accra will be flooded, and that was what happened,” he stated.
Portuphy added that even though the city is currently experiencing a brief rainy season, the rain is predicted to get worse.
The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has meanwhile urged the populace to exercise caution in the face of the predicted torrential downpours. NADMO’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), George Ayisi, emphasized that the organization constantly coordinates with the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) to provide weather updates.
Ayisi has issued a warning, particularly for travelers and people who live in flood-prone areas, in light of GMet’s forecast for additional heavy rains in the next few days.
“We are in constant touch with GMeT, and they keep updating us every time. They say the rains are going to be severe, they are going to be heavy, so we should be careful,” Ayisi stated. He advised people to drive carefully, especially in areas with trees, and to be aware of buildings with poor roofing.
Ayisi also suggested finding safe havens within the city and moving to safer areas, particularly for those residing in areas that are prone to flooding.
The Tema Motorway, Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, Kaneshie, North Kaneshie, Alajo, Adabraka, Accra Central, Tema, Tema station-Accra, Osu, and a number of other locations were impacted by the rain last week.
Many homes and vehicles were submerged after nearly an hour of nonstop rain, and drainage systems overflowed, worsening the flooding situation. Due to the flood, potholes on roads were also widened and deepened.
