Accra floods drown neighborhoods, building collapse kills one

On June 3 2026 heavy rains overwhelmed Accra’s already‑choked drains, causing the Odaw River to overflow and flood low‑lying communities such as Ashongman, Adenta, Legon and others. Major roads—including the Kwame Nkrumah Circle interchange and the Accra‑Tema Motorway—were submerged, homes and businesses were inundated, and families were forced to seek higher ground. A resident lamented, “We are reliving the same story every rainy season,” highlighting long‑standing problems with plastic‑clogged gutters and insufficient drainage.

Later that day a multi‑storey building under construction in the Adenta New Site collapsed, trapping five occupants. Four people—including three adults and two children—were rescued with injuries by the Ghana National Fire Service; the fifth victim, Margaret Kpeli, was recovered unconscious and later died. The collapse, occurring alongside the floods, has renewed criticism of illegal construction in waterways and calls for authorities to enforce building permits, improve drainage infrastructure, and hold responsible officials accountable.