Beyond the Headlines: What It’s Like Living in a Flood-Prone Area

By Nomako

Odawna, Accra — The rain started around 3 a.m. At first, it was a steady patter on the rooftop. Then it turned into a roar. Within an hour, muddy water surged through the alleys and spilled into living rooms. Mattresses floated. Fridges toppled. Children screamed.

For 42-year-old trader Kojo Mensah, it was the fourth time in two years his home had been submerged.

“We didn’t even sleep,” he said. “We just stood in the water, waiting for it to stop.”

In flood-prone communities like Odawna, Nima, and Kaneshie in Accra, flooding is no longer a seasonal nuisance — it’s a permanent threat, an annual trauma, and a glaring symbol of infrastructural inequality.

Ghana’s Flooding Crisis: The Big Picture

Ghana’s urban areas — especially Accra and Kumasi — have become increasingly flood-prone over the past decade. Experts blame a combination of:

Rapid urbanization without proper planning
Encroachment on waterways
Inadequate drainage systems
Improper waste disposal
More intense and unpredictable rainfall due to climate change

In June 2021, over 2,000 residents in Accra lost their homes due to flash floods. In 2023, parts of the Volta Region were submerged when the Akosombo Dam released excess water — affecting tens of thousands.

But beyond these headlines lies a deeper, more human story.

The Daily Reality

Living in a flood-prone area isn’t just about surviving the rainy season. It’s about living with constant fear.

Many residents keep belongings on raised bricks or shelves
Some sleep with one eye open during rainy nights
Others build makeshift walls or dig trenches around homes
Children are kept home from school when dark clouds appear

“We pack our things in black polythene bags all year,” says 30-year-old Lydia, who lives in Alajo. “It’s like preparing for war — every time it rains.”

The Economic Toll

Floods don’t just damage homes. They also destroy livelihoods.

Traders lose goods worth thousands
Transport is disrupted, affecting daily commutes
Health costs rise due to waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid
Renters are forced to relocate frequently, often at high cost

“I lost all my wares in June,” says Kojo, who sells second-hand clothes at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. “And there was no compensation, no help.”

Health Hazards and Sanitation Breakdown

Floodwater in urban slums is not just rainwater — it’s a toxic cocktail of sewage, garbage, and sometimes even dead animals.

The health risks include:

Skin infections and rashes
Gastrointestinal illnesses
Mosquito-breeding puddles that worsen malaria
Psychological trauma from repeat loss

“After every flood, we see a spike in cholera cases,” says Dr. Yaw Boakye, a health officer at Mamobi Polyclinic. “And it’s the same people over and over again.”

Why Do People Stay?

It’s a fair question — why not just move?

For many residents, the answer is painfully simple: they can’t afford to leave.

Low-income housing options are scarce
Jobs are tied to specific urban markets and routes
Extended families and support systems are rooted in the community
Rent elsewhere is unaffordable

“This is home,” Lydia says. “Even if it floods, it’s still where we belong.”

Government Action: Progress and Problems

Successive governments have launched initiatives to curb flooding:

Desilting of major drains like the Odaw River
Construction of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project
Eviction and demolition of structures along waterways
Public education on waste disposal

But critics argue that these measures are often reactionary, politicized, and poorly enforced.

“Every year we desilt,” says urban planner Ama Ofori. “But we don’t stop people from building in flood zones. We don’t fix the drainage system. It’s not enough.”

The Role of Waste

A major culprit in urban flooding is poor waste management. Plastic bottles, sachets, and garbage block drains, causing water to overflow even after short rains.

“There are no bins,” says Kojo. “So people dump waste in the gutter. Then we all suffer.”

Some NGOs like Zoomlion, Plastic Punch, and Green Africa Youth run community clean-up campaigns and plastic recycling drives. But again — scale and consistency remain challenges.

A Community Fights Back

Despite the challenges, some residents are taking matters into their own hands:

Forming community emergency response groups
Installing makeshift sandbag barriers
Organizing WhatsApp groups to alert each other before heavy rains
Lobbying local assembly members for more action

“I can’t stop the rain,” Kojo says. “But I can warn my neighbors when it’s coming.”

Dreams on Hold

For many children in flood-prone areas, dreams are delayed — or drowned.

“My daughter missed her BECE exams last year,” Lydia says tearfully. “The night before, we lost our home. She was too sick and scared to go.”

Final Thought

Flooding in Ghana is not just a climate issue — it’s a class issue. It exposes the fault lines between those who can insulate themselves from disaster and those who live in its path.

For families like Kojo’s and Lydia’s, the floodwaters don’t just wash away belongings — they erode dignity, hope, and security.

They don’t need pity. They need policy — and protection.

“It’s not just rain,” Kojo says. “It’s a warning. And we can’t keep ignoring it.”