Flooding Hits Lomé and Accra as Coastal Storm Sweeps Across Ghana, Togo and Benin

Several communities in Lomé, the capital of Togo, were inundated with floodwater on Monday, 29 June, after torrential rains began in the early hours of the morning and continued well into the day. Areas including Kodjoviakopé, Nyekonakpoé, Djagblé, and Adétikopé were among those worst affected, with residents in low-lying zones closely monitoring rising water levels.

Togolese journalist Blame Ekou confirmed that the downpour commenced around 3:00 am and was still falling heavily as of 10:00 am, raising fears that conditions could deteriorate further as the day progressed.

The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) had earlier forecast widespread thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across southern Ghana on Monday, attributing the unsettled weather to a weak-to-moderate rainstorm system tracking westward along the Togo-Benin coastline. GMet's 18-hour forecast warned that rain of varying intensity, accompanied in some instances by thunderstorms, would persist throughout the day across coastal and inland communities in the southern half of the country.

The agency added that the weather system was likely to intensify from the morning into the afternoon, urging residents in vulnerable areas to exercise caution.

In Accra, the rains triggered flooding on several major roads, throwing the city's transport network into chaos. Thousands of commuters were caught in severe gridlock on Monday morning as floodwaters rendered key routes difficult or impassable across the capital and its suburbs.

Residents Urged to Stay Alert

• Authorities have not yet issued formal evacuation orders, but residents in flood-prone communities along the coast are being advised to remain vigilant and stay clear of waterlogged areas.
• GMet is expected to issue updated advisories as the weather system evolves throughout the day.