Expect more heavy rains and flash floods – Meteo agency cautions

Head of the Central Analysis and Forecasting Office at the Ghana Meteorological Agency, Felicity Ahafianyo, has issued a public advisory, urging residents across the country to prepare for intensified rainfall and potential flash floods.

Her comments follow the devastating floods yesterday, May 18.

The downpour submerged entire neighbourhoods in Accra, Kumasi, and other urban centres, displacing thousands, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and claiming three lives in Adenta.

• Read also: National Security officials storm Lakeside after Sunday’s deadly floods

Speaking on Joy FM‘s Top Story on Monday, May 19, she cautioned that the country has not yet entered the peak period, but more frequent and heavier downpours are expected from the end of May to June.

“We are getting to the peak of the rainy season — we are yet to enter into it,” she stated. “So by the close of next week into the first week of June, or towards the end, we are likely to be getting more of these rains. And definitely, there will be flash floods here and there.”

Ms Ahafianyo advised residents living in flood-prone areas to take proactive measures, including relocating where necessary and closely following instructions from emergency and disaster management officers.

“If you are around flood-prone areas, we need to relocate and listen to the officers that have been assigned to us,” she stressed.

She also underscored the importance of community involvement in flood prevention efforts.

With drainage systems often blocked during the rainy season, she called on residents to organise clean-up exercises.

“If our gutters are choked, let us try as much as possible to do communal labour to desilt the gutters,” she urged.

“And let us also keep ourselves tuned to GMet’s social media handles for weather updates.”

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