More floods loom for Accra as GMet predicts heavy June rains
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT) has warned that Accra faces heightened flood risk this month, with rainfall totals projected to range from 100 to 150 millimetres across the coastal zone.
According to the agency, Accra’s flood vulnerability has worsened over the years, with as little as 30 millimetres of rainfall now sufficient to inundate parts of the city.
Flooding in Accra
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Deputy Director and Head of Research and Applied Meteorology at the GMet, Francisca Martey, said the city’s capacity to absorb and drain rainwater had significantly reduced over the years due to human activities, making flooding more frequent and severe.
She explained that flooding in Accra was caused not only by rainfall within the city but also by runoff from surrounding communities, including those at higher elevations.
“When it rains in Accra, Accra drains do not collect only Accra. It counts Berekusu and other surrounding areas. All of them come to Accra,” she said.
Mrs Martey stated that natural flood retention areas that previously held excess rainwater had largely been taken over by development.
“All those places are naturally made to collect rainwater. Now, all those places have been built into. So what are we expecting?” she asked.
She said the situation could worsen this month, given the rainfall projections.
Effect of urbanisation
According to her, urbanisation had concentrated stormwater into narrow drainage channels that often cannot accommodate heavy flows.
“At first, the rain would spread over a broad area and gradually seep into the ground.
Now, we have brought all of it into narrow gutters. Once the volume exceeds their capacity, the water spills out and floods surrounding areas,” she explained.
In addition, she said many buildings were on watercourses that required attention.
One such example, Mrs Martey said, was near the Kpone Junction, which contributes significantly to the flooding challenges in the area.
While stressing that GMet’s role was to provide weather forecasts and early warnings, she said city authorities, planners and engineers were best placed to implement long-term solutions.
“The city authorities know exactly what to do.
The Mayors know. Land Use and Spatial Planning (LUSPA) authorities know exactly what to do. I give the forecast. They know what to do,” she said.
Other areas
The warning is part of GMet’s June 2026 rainfall outlook, which predicts predominantly wet conditions across most of the country, particularly in the forest and coastal zones.
In the Savannah zone, including Navrongo, Zuarungu, Tamale, Walewale, Bole and Yendi, rainfall is expected to remain near normal, with a higher chance of normal to above-normal rainfall over Wa and Bolgatanga, where cumulative rainfall totals are projected to range between 150 and 210 millimetres.
The transition zone is expected to experience variable rainfall patterns. Areas around Kintampo, Wenchi, Atebubu, Mim, Salaga and Kete Krachi are likely to experience normal to above-normal rainfall, with estimated totals of between 200 and 250 millimetres.
However, Bui, Sunyani, Dormaa, and Ejura are forecast to experience normal to below-normal rainfall.
In the forest zone, areas such as Dunkwa, Kumasi and Akim Oda are expected to record enhanced rainfall activity, with cumulative rainfall ranging between 200 and 400 millimetres.
Akuse and surrounding communities, however, are expected to receive relatively lower rainfall amounts.
The coastal zone is forecast to experience predominantly normal-to-above-normal rainfall, with cumulative rainfall projected between 100 and 150 millimetres.
Advice
Mrs Martey also advised disaster management institutions to strengthen emergency preparedness measures due to the risk of localised flooding.
She said that although the anticipated rainfall would benefit agriculture and improve water availability, authorities and community leaders must remain vigilant and implement appropriate risk reduction measures.
