Heavy overnight rains swept across the Greater Accra Region on Sunday, March 29, 2026, triggering flash floods that displaced families, forced the rescue of 14 children by the Ghana Navy, and brought Palm Sunday trading to a standstill across the capital.
The downpour began around 3:30 am and continued into the morning, in line with forecasts from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet). Nima and Alajo were among the areas worst affected in Accra, with floodwaters causing disruptions to traffic and daily activities.
The crisis was most severe in Tema. Widespread flooding hit parts of Tema Manhean, with low-lying Waterland in Tema New Town particularly hard hit. Homes were inundated, streets became impassable, and several families were forced to flee as floodwaters entered their living spaces. Many residents were trapped in their homes as the water surged, while others struggled to salvage belongings before seeking safety.
Personnel from the Ghana Navy, supported by local volunteers, launched rescue operations in the affected communities, recovering 14 children from floodwaters. A four-day-old baby who was nearly swept away by the floodwaters was rescued by community members and is reported to be in good condition.
The Assembly Member for the Oninku Electoral Area, Felix Mensah Normeshie, attributed the scale of the flooding to a major drain in the community that had been blocked, saying the situation was difficult. A Waterland resident, Eric Adjetey, recounted being jolted from sleep by gushing water and rushing out to avoid being trapped as levels rose rapidly.
For traders across the capital, what was anticipated to be a busy pre-Easter Sunday was lost before it began. In commercial hubs including Kaneshie, Dansoman, Mallam Junction, and Accra Central, waterlogging made it impossible for small-scale vendors to set up their stalls. Businesses in Nima and Kwame Nkrumah Circle arrived to find their shops flooded, spending the day salvaging inventory rather than making sales.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) confirmed that the rainstorm caused significant disruptions to the power grid across parts of Accra, with engineers working to restore supply. Customers were advised to contact ECG’s customer care lines. The outage compounded losses for food vendors, caterers, and operators who rely on electricity to power refrigerators and preparation equipment, with perishable stock spoiling across the city.
GMet issued a flash flood alert on Sunday morning, warning that the rainfall was expected to spread across most parts of Ghana, with urban centres carrying poor drainage systems at particular risk of overwhelmed waterways and flooded roads. GMet reported that the downpour was linked to a rainstorm previously located south of Benin, which moved westwards, bringing cloudiness, thunderstorms, and rain of varying intensities across coastal areas and parts of the middle sector.
No fatalities had been officially reported as of the time of publication. Authorities have advised residents to exercise caution as rainfall continues in some areas and the Navy continues to monitor affected communities.
The flooding comes weeks after GMet forecast above-normal rainfall for Accra, Tema, and several East Coast communities between April and June 2026, raising early warnings of a difficult rainy season ahead. Urban residents were warned against dumping refuse into drainage systems, with the agency calling on communities to clear gutters ahead of peak rainfall periods.
