Two Swept Away, One Rescued as Devastating Flood Hits Wassa Akropong

General

12 June, 2026

Two people are missing and feared dead after a devastating flood swept through Wassa Akropong and surrounding communities in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality of the Western Region, following a torrential downpour that lasted nearly five hours on Thursday.

One person was rescued by residents and emergency volunteers during the flooding, which destroyed homes, businesses and other property worth thousands of Ghana cedis. Several families were forced to evacuate as floodwaters submerged residences and shops, while others spent hours attempting to salvage furniture, electrical appliances, clothing and food items from the rising waters.

Residents have placed the blame squarely on illegal mining activities, silted waterways and the unauthorised construction of buildings along drainage channels. According to community members, the heavy rainstorm caused streams and drains to overflow, sending floodwaters through homes, shops and roads with little warning.

Eyewitnesses said the two missing individuals were carried away by strong currents during the peak of the flooding. Search efforts are ongoing to locate them.

The disaster has reignited long-standing frustrations over illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which residents say has contributed to the silting of rivers, streams and drainage channels in the area, reducing their capacity to handle large volumes of rainwater. Community members also accused individuals and companies of constructing buildings directly on waterways and drainage paths, obstructing the natural flow of water and compounding the flood risk.

Residents expressed deep frustration over what they described as inadequate enforcement of environmental and building regulations, despite repeated complaints and warnings about illegal mining and unauthorised construction in the municipality.

The National Road Safety Authority recently cautioned the public about increased road hazards during the rainy season, a warning that takes on added urgency in communities where blocked waterways turn streets into rivers during heavy storms.

Samuel Mensah, an aspiring NDC Youth Organiser for the Wassa Amenfi East Constituency, called on authorities to take decisive action against structures obstructing waterways. He stressed that unless planning regulations are enforced and illegal buildings on drainage channels are removed, flooding will continue to threaten the lives and livelihoods of residents. He also urged government agencies to intensify efforts to tackle illegal mining, which he said continues to damage the environment and worsen flooding across the area.

Affected residents are appealing to the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal Assembly, NADMO and other relevant agencies to intervene urgently. Their demands include the dredging and desilting of waterways, strict enforcement against illegal mining operators and the removal of structures built on drainage channels. They warned that without swift action, future rainstorms could bring even more severe consequences, including further loss of life.

The flooding at Wassa Akropong adds to a growing pattern of climate-related disasters across Ghana, where rapid urbanisation, illegal mining and poor drainage planning have left communities increasingly vulnerable to the intensifying rainy season.