Accra Floods Paralyse Capital as Traders, Trucks Stranded and Minister Urges Work-From-Home

Widespread flooding has brought economic activity in Accra to a near halt on Monday, after heavy overnight rains inundated major roads, homes and offices across large parts of the capital. The situation has left motorists, traders and haulage trucks gridlocked, with floodwaters in some areas splitting entire carriageways and preventing movement in either direction.

The Tomato Transporters Association of Ghana has raised the alarm over the impact on perishable goods. Association President Eric Tuffour disclosed that drivers heading to Accra's central markets have been forced to pull over and wait for the waters to subside. "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 told Luv Business.

Mr Tuffour warned that the delay poses serious economic consequences, particularly for tomato traders whose goods spoil quickly. "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 said.

Mondays are typically the busiest market days in Ghana, with large volumes of commodities transported from rural farming communities to city centres such as Accra and Kumasi for the week's trade. The flooding has disrupted this critical supply chain, leaving many vendors stranded with goods they cannot sell.

Weather forecasters had predicted the rains would persist until midday, prompting calls for residents to exercise caution. Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak stepped in to advise Accra residents to work from home on Monday where possible, underscoring the severity of conditions on the ground.

Flooding remains a recurring challenge in Accra, where poor drainage infrastructure and rapid urbanisation have repeatedly left the city vulnerable during the rainy season. Authorities have yet to provide an updated timeline on when the affected roads will be cleared.