Accra Floods Leave Traders Stranded, Tomato Trucks Stuck as Floodwaters Cut Off Major Roads

Accra has ground to a near standstill after heavy overnight rainfall triggered widespread flooding that has inundated homes, offices and major roads across much of the capital. The situation is particularly dire for traders and transport operators who rely on Monday morning deliveries to stock city markets for the week ahead.

Eric Tuffour, President of the Tomato Transporters Association of Ghana, told Luv Business that drivers were unable to move their loads into the city, with some stuck as far out as Nsawam. "One of the drivers called me and said they are stuck at Nsawam because the Pokuase road is now inundated with no vehicle able to move to access the market centre," he said. "All our big markets are in Accra central and since it's flooded, what they can do is to just park."

The consequences for perishable produce are severe. Tuffour warned that tomatoes, which must be offloaded early to avoid spoilage, are at serious risk. "Tomatoes are highly perishable and we must offload them early in the morning. But the trucks are stuck on the road. This would really affect us. This is a very bad situation for us as a country," he added.

Floodwaters have reportedly split entire stretches of highway, effectively cutting carriageways in two and leaving motorists queued in both directions with no way through. Mondays are typically the busiest day for commodity transport, with vehicles bringing goods from rural communities across Ghana into Accra and Kumasi for weekly trade.

The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has urged Accra residents to work from home on Monday where possible, as weather forecasters indicate the rains are likely to persist until midday. Residents in flood-prone areas have been advised to prioritise their personal safety.