President Mahama Releases GH¢300m For Flood Relief And Urban Drainage Works

President John Mahama has directed the immediate release of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund to support relief efforts and long-term flood mitigation measures following severe flooding in parts of Accra and other communities in southern Ghana.

In a statement issued by the Presidency on Tuesday and signed by the minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the government said the funds would be split equally between emergency assistance and measures aimed at preventing future floods.

According to the statement, GH¢150 million will be used to provide urgent support to flood-affected persons and communities, while another GH¢150 million will finance flood mitigation projects across the country.

The directive follows hours of unusually heavy rainfall that triggered widespread flooding in several parts of the capital and surrounding communities, leaving roads submerged, displacing residents and causing significant damage to property.

The President has also ordered the deployment of personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service to work with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other security agencies in rescue and relief operations.

President Mahama undertook an aerial inspection of the affected areas to assess the scale of the disaster before announcing a series of interventions intended to protect residents and reduce the risk of future flooding.

The latest flooding has once again highlighted Accra's long-standing struggle with poor drainage and the occupation of waterways.

Ghana's capital has experienced several deadly floods over the past decade, including the June 2015 disaster that was followed by an explosion at a petrol station and claimed more than 100 lives.

At the time, the government announced a GH¢60 million support package for victims and pledged measures to prevent a recurrence.

The recurring floods have also raised concerns about urban planning and waste management, with experts and city authorities frequently pointing to blocked drains and unregulated development as major contributors to flooding in the capital.

The government has not yet provided an official estimate of the total damage caused by the latest floods, but authorities continue to assess the extent of the destruction as emergency response teams remain on the ground.

The Presidency said the emergency package forms part of broader efforts to safeguard residents and strengthen the country's response to increasingly frequent flooding incidents.