Heavy rains in Ghana and Ivory Coast leave 22 dead

The Ghana National Fire Service reported that at least 12 people died as a result of heavy rains that flooded large parts of the country, including the capital, Accra, while rescue operations are still continuing.

The authority stated that the victims were three women, eight men and a child, noting that more than 470 people were rescued. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said that preliminary data showed that about 140 millimeters of rain fell in Accra, the highest amount recorded in years, compared to about 56 millimeters as the highest daily average recorded last year.

Mahama indicated that the volume of rainfall is due to changing climatic conditions, adding that the matter is beyond the government’s control. Accra is exposed to frequent floods during the rainy season due to frequently cited factors, such as weak drainage networks, unauthorized construction on waterways, and poor urban planning, which exacerbates the impact of torrential rains.

In Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, heavy rains killed more than 10 people within two days, according to what was announced by the Minister of Solidarity and Social Cohesion, Miss Belmond Dogo.

Every year, the rainy season, which extends from late May to late July, causes landslides and floods that kill dozens of people, especially in the poorest neighborhoods.