Heavy Friday downpour floods parts of Accra, traffic gridlock underscores drainage crisis

Accra, Ghana – Friday, 7 November 2025
A powerful downpour on Friday morning triggered extensive flooding in the Ghanaian capital, affecting several low-lying suburbs and bringing traffic to a standstill in key zones. The rain, which began early and persisted for several hours, inundated areas such as Weija, Kaneshie, Mallam Junction, Odorkor, Achimota, Taifa, and Adabraka. At the same time, severe gridlock was reported at Dzorwulu and the SCC Junction following inundation at the intersections.

Although no fatalities or injuries have been confirmed at this time, residents voiced frustration at the repeated occurrence of floods and called on city authorities to step up drainage maintenance and address systemic engineering deficiencies.

Accra Floods

The rainfall began in the early hours and extended into mid-morning, overwhelming drainage networks in many parts of Accra. In several neighbourhoods—particularly those in low-lying terrain—water levels rose rapidly, cutting off access roads and stranding commuters. Traffic was especially bad around Dzorwulu and the SCC Junction as vehicles attempted to navigate flooded junctions.

Residents of Ring Road West near the Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange told local radio station Citi News they were shocked to see the relatively new interchange flood so quickly, with one describing it as “an engineering problem.” Others echoed calls for immediate action on blocked gutters and choked drainage channels.

Officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) stated they were monitoring the situation and warned members of the public to stay cautious in known flood-prone zones ahead of further rains.

Flooding in Accra is more than a short-term inconvenience: it threatens lives, disrupts commerce, and highlights deep-seated infrastructure and planning challenges. When traffic grinds to a halt and homes are inundated, the ripple effects include lost work hours, damaged property, public health risks, and a blow to investor confidence—impacts that resonate across Ghana’s economy and urban governance agenda.

Beyond Ghana, many rapidly urbanising African cities face similar hazards: intense rainfall, inadequate drainage systems, unplanned settlements, and waste clogging waterways. The recurrence of such events in Accra serves as a cautionary tale for other capitals grappling with climate pressures and urban expansion.

Experts and past studies identify several key drivers behind Accra’s chronic flooding:

• Inadequate drainage infrastructure: Many of the city’s storm-water drains are undersized, poorly connected, or improperly maintained. Existing channels are frequently overwhelmed during downpours.
• Waste and silt blockage: Improper disposal of plastics and other solid waste into gutters is a major contributor. It is estimated that as much as 80% of drain-blockage incidents in Accra stem from litter and non-biodegradable waste.
• Encroachment on waterways and wetlands: Rapid urban development has seen buildings erected on natural flood-buffers, wetlands, and drainage belts, reducing the land’s capacity to absorb rainfall.
• Rapid urbanisation and increased surface runoff: Expansion of paved surfaces, roads, and buildings has reduced infiltration and increased the speed and volume of runoff during storms.

For example, in May 2025, NADMO reported that over 3,000 households were affected by flooding in the Odawna-Sahara area of the Greater Accra Region after a heavy downpour—highlighting that the issue is neither isolated nor random.

For residents of Accra, these floods bring immediate distress. In recent years, households in places like Kaneshie, Mateheko, Mampon Stream areas, and Dzorwulu have suffered repeated inundation. A study noted that, in one ten-year span, flooding increased even when rainfall decreased—emphasising that poor land-use and drainage infrastructure, not just rain volume, are driving the crises.

In response, some local government units are taking steps: the Ashanti Regional NADMO, for example, launched a desilting campaign of major drains in Kumasi to address similar issues in that city.

For Accra, this means there is both an urgent need and opportunity: upgrading drainage, enforcing building codes, reclaiming waterways, and promoting green infrastructure (such as rain gardens and permeable pavements) could reduce vulnerability.

As Ghana enters the main rainy season, repeated flooding events—if unaddressed—could place growing pressure on municipal finances, health services, and economic productivity. Residents may face mounting costs from property damage, transportation delays, and potential disease outbreaks linked to stagnant water.

For policymakers and urban planners, the recent flood is a reminder that climate resilience is not just about predicting rainfall but about managing the built environment, enforcing land use regulations, and maintaining infrastructure. Without decisive action, floods are likely to worsen, especially as urban sprawl intensifies.

Friday’s downpour may have been just one weather event, but the gridlock and flooding it triggered lay bare a deeper structural challenge for Accra. Heavy rain will recur. What matters is whether Ghana’s capital can move from response to resilience—keeping drains clear, enforcing land-use rules, and designing for water, not against it.

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