President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that an estimated 48,000 people were displaced by the devastating floods that swept through parts of the Greater Accra Region following the heavy rains on June 29.
The President made the disclosure on Friday, July 3, during a state visit by the President of Sierra Leone and Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Julius Maada Bio, who visited Ghana to express solidarity with the country after the disaster.
Speaking to the media after bilateral engagements, President Mahama said the floods left thousands homeless, with 12 confirmed deaths and seven people still unaccounted for.
“This downpour was huge, and we estimate that about 48,000 people were rendered homeless by the downpour, and 12 are confirmed dead; seven are still unaccounted for. We have asked the military and the joint task force to immediately mobilise and bring things back as quickly as possible,” he said.
The President disclosed that personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces have already begun clearing waterways, removing garbage, and clearing debris deposited across the capital by the floods as part of efforts to restore normalcy.
“The Army has started to clear waterways, clear garbage and clear debris that was thrown all over the city by rainfall. And we expect that in a week or two things will normalise,” he added.
President Mahama also announced that the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has released funds from the government’s Contingency Fund to support ongoing flood relief and mitigation efforts.
According to him, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), together with other emergency agencies, will soon begin distributing relief items, including towels, blankets, and mattresses, to affected residents.
The President expressed gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone for their solidarity and support during Ghana’s difficult period.
“We appreciate his message of sympathy,” President Mahama said.
The June 29 floods caused widespread destruction across several communities in the Greater Accra Region, damaging homes, businesses, roads, and public infrastructure while forcing thousands of residents from their homes. Rescue, recovery, and relief operations by government agencies and emergency responders are still ongoing.
