Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Minister of Interior, has urged residents of Accra to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement as heavy rains continue to cause flooding in parts of the capital.
He said reports from the emergency services indicated that several roads linking communities to the Central Business District had already been inundated, while the Ghana Meteorological Agency had forecast heavier rainfall before midday.
”I have just spoken to the Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency, and we are expecting heavier rains before midday. We are therefore pleading with everyone to stay where they are if it is safe to do so,” he said in an interview.
The Minister appealed to residents who had not yet left home for work to remain indoors, saying the worsening flood situation posed a risk to lives and property.
He advised commuters who had already left home but were still close enough to return to do so immediately to avoid being trapped by rising floodwaters.
Alhaji Muntaka urged workers who had already reached their workplaces to remain there until conditions improved instead of attempting to travel during the peak of the rains.
He appealed to public and private institutions to adopt remote working arrangements where possible to minimise movement and reduce exposure to the flood risk.
”Managers who have important meetings should consider holding them on Zoom. Please do not unnecessarily pull people out to travel under these dangerous conditions,” he added.
The Minister said the directive was a precautionary measure to safeguard lives as emergency management agencies monitored developments across the capital.
He urged motorists and pedestrians to avoid driving or walking through flooded roads, warning that fast-moving floodwaters could sweep away vehicles and people.
Alhaji Muntaka appealed to the public to cooperate with the security agencies, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other emergency responders managing the situation.
He assured residents that the Government was monitoring the situation and would continue to provide updates and guidance as the weather conditions evolved.
The Minister appealed for calm and vigilance, saying public cooperation would be critical in reducing the impact of the floods and preventing avoidable casualties.
He reiterated that protecting lives remained the Government’s immediate priority and urged residents to heed official warnings until the heavy rains and flooding subsided.
Meanwhile, heavy rains on Monday morning caused flooding on several major roads in Accra.
The Weija-Kasoa Road and sections of the N1 Highway were submerged by floodwaters.
The Ghana Standards Authority-Shiashie stretch was partially blocked, with only one lane accessible to motorists.
The Atomic Roundabout was flooded and impassable, while the Legon-GIMPA Bypass Road was blocked around the new Law School building.
Source: GNA
