Ghana launches national flood task force after deadly Accra floods

The Ghanaian government has launched a national task force to coordinate relief, recovery and long-term flood prevention following the deadly floods that swept through parts of Accra and other areas at the end of June.

The new structure, announced on Friday, brings together security agencies, government ministries, local authorities and emergency services under a coordinated response aimed at improving disaster management and reducing the impact of future flooding.

Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, Director General of Joint Operations at the Ghana Armed Forces, said the task force would oversee five specialist committees responsible for flood mitigation, early warning systems, sanitation and public health, relief distribution and emergency communications.

He said the Chief of Staff would supervise the overall operation on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, while the various committees would coordinate work with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, emergency responders and other state institutions.

"We shall not leave any stone unturned," Brig Gen Okae-Yeboah told journalists in Accra.

He said one of the committees would provide regular public updates on recovery efforts, while the broader strategy aims to improve flood preparedness through better drainage infrastructure, stronger early warning systems, stricter enforcement of planning regulations and enhanced emergency response capacity.

The announcement comes days after torrential rain triggered severe flooding across parts of the Greater Accra Region, killing at least 13 people, displacing thousands and causing widespread damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.

The floods have prompted a series of emergency interventions by the government, including relief operations, financial support for affected communities and measures to replace passports and other official documents lost in the disaster.

The government says the new task force is intended not only to coordinate the immediate recovery effort but also to address the structural causes of recurring floods, which have become one of the capital's most persistent urban challenges.