The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Adentan Municipal Assembly, Ella Esiman Nongo, has confirmed that three lives were lost after heavy rains triggered widespread flooding across Accra on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
In an interview with Citi FM on Monday, May 19, Madam Nongo revealed that the fatalities were recorded in Lakeside, Nanakrom, and New Legon—communities within her municipality. “In Lakeside, we lost two people, including a four-year-old girl at Nanakrom, and a gentleman around New Legon,” she said.
The flooding followed nearly three hours of intense rainfall beginning around 3:00 p.m., submerging major roads and cutting off access to several neighborhoods. Heavily affected areas included Weija, Kaneshie, Adabraka, Adenta-Dodowa, Tema, and other surrounding towns.
Overflowing stormwater drains—especially the Odaw drain—exacerbated the crisis, leaving vehicles stranded and residents trapped. Emergency teams managed to rescue many individuals in the Ashiyie area, but the MCE warned that several low-lying communities remain at risk due to inadequate drainage and unregulated construction.
“People are building on waterways, so there’s no proper outlet for rainwater. That’s one of the main causes of these floods,” she noted.
Madam Nongo called for urgent enforcement of building regulations and structural reforms to address the root causes of Accra’s chronic flooding. “Unless we confront the indiscipline in our construction practices and apply the law, these avoidable tragedies will persist,” she warned.
Sunday’s deadly floods once again underscore the ongoing threat posed by poor urban planning and ineffective drainage systems. Authorities are expected to begin assessments and roll out relief measures for affected families in the days ahead.
