The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has revealed that 18 people lost their lives and 58 houses were destroyed in the Central Region due to torrential rains that affected parts of the area approximately two weeks ago, underscoring the increasing human cost of extreme weather events in the nation.
During an update to Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, regarding recent flood disasters impacting various regions of Ghana, the Minister noted that the devastation in the Central Region occurred prior to the catastrophic floods in Greater Accra on Monday and should not be disregarded.
He elaborated that the earlier disaster had a significant impact on numerous communities in the region, where many ageing mud and brick buildings were unable to endure the extended rainfall.
“With your permission, I will mention some information from the Central Region that also happened in the last two weeks. In the Central Region, Mr Speaker, in the last two weeks, we had 58 houses that collapsed,” Mr Mohammed-Mubarak informed Parliament.
The Minister indicated that the extent of the destruction was partly attributable to the type and age of the structures in many communities.
“And for those of us who are very familiar with the Central Region and the kind of houses there, because of the mud houses, some of them are brick structures; some of the houses were over 100 years old,” he clarified.
He added that the disaster claimed multiple lives.
“Unfortunately, there too we lost 18 individuals, as per the report that was sent to me in Cape Coast.”
The Interior Minister took the opportunity to express the condolences of President John Dramani Mahama, the government, and the citizens of Ghana to the families who have lost loved ones in the recent flood disasters that have impacted the nation.
He recognised the difficulties endured by thousands of victims, many of whom were compelled to leave their homes as floodwaters inundated residential areas.
“We know many people could not be in their homes and even sleep in their homes, but the government is doing whatever it can,” he stated.
This announcement comes as Ghana continues to face significant flooding following the torrential rains on Monday, which affected extensive regions of Greater Accra, displacing thousands of residents, destroying homes and businesses, and disrupting transportation and economic activities.
As per the Interior Minister’s report to Parliament, the floods in Greater Accra have thus far impacted 7,761 households and 3,882 individuals, resulting in 12 confirmed fatalities and seven individuals still unaccounted for as rescue efforts persist.
Emergency response organisations, including the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana National Fire Service, are actively engaged in search-and-rescue operations, evaluating damage, and delivering humanitarian aid to the affected communities.
