Ghana’s leading celebrities have renewed calls for urgent government intervention after heavy rains once again left large sections of Accra submerged, sparking fresh public outrage over the city’s persistent flooding problem.
Several well-known personalities took to social media to encourage residents to stay safe while expressing growing frustration over the country’s inability to permanently address the annual flooding crisis.
The latest disaster has reignited a long-running national debate over who should bear responsibility. While some government officials attribute the situation to poor public attitudes and indiscriminate dumping of waste, many urban planners and experts argue that inadequate infrastructure and weak planning remain the root causes.
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The flooding has also revived memories of the devastating 2015 floods, raising concerns that little progress has been made despite more than a decade of recurring disasters affecting the same communities.
As floodwaters swept through parts of the capital on Monday morning, prominent Ghanaian celebrities shared messages that reflected the public’s mood—combining concern for residents with disappointment over the repeated destruction witnessed every rainy season.
Actress and filmmaker Lydia Forson was among the most vocal voices. She initially advised residents to remain indoors where possible, warning that the rainfall posed a serious danger.
She later expanded her comments, calling for national unity and decisive action to tackle the flooding problem once and for all. Forson lamented that the situation appears to worsen each year, noting that even simple activities such as enjoying the rain have become impossible because of the growing risk to lives and property.
Her remarks added momentum to the ongoing discussion about whether Accra’s flooding is primarily the result of public behaviour or years of inadequate urban planning and engineering.
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The debate intensified after President John Dramani Mahama, speaking to members of the Ghanaian diaspora in London in May, argued that Accra’s flooding was mainly caused by public indiscipline rather than engineering shortcomings. His comments attracted criticism from several planners and analysts, who insisted that structural deficiencies and poor infrastructure are the major contributors.
Award-winning musician Kofi Kinaata adopted a more personal approach by asking followers whether they were safe and inviting them to report conditions in their communities using the hashtag #AccraFloods.
Rapper Sarkodie also joined the conversation with a short message urging Ghanaians to remain cautious and stay safe during the severe weather.
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The celebrities’ appeals aligned with guidance issued by the Ministry of the Interior, which advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors until weather conditions improved. Emergency response teams were also dispatched to assist communities most severely affected by the flooding.
Beyond immediate safety concerns, many of the public reactions highlighted widespread frustration that Accra continues to face the same flooding challenges more than a decade after the tragic June 3, 2015 disaster, which claimed over 150 lives.
For many Ghanaians, the latest floods serve as another reminder of the urgent need for lasting solutions to a crisis that continues to threaten lives, homes and businesses every rainy season.