1960 archival report exposes decades of failed Accra flood promises

The report described scenes of severe flooding across parts of the city more than six decades ago

A resurfaced newspaper report on flooding in Accra has triggered reactions on social media after parts of the capital were submerged following heavy rainfall on May 25, 2026.

The archival report, shared by Daily Graphic on its X page on May 26, 2026, featured a front-page publication from April 18, 1960, under the headline “When the Rains Came to Accra.”

Heavy rain causes flooding and traffic chaos in parts of Accra

The report described scenes of severe flooding across parts of the city more than six decades ago.

“These pictures tell the story of the day when the rains once again came to Accra. Many streets and houses were completely flooded following a heavy downpour of rain in Accra at the weekend,” portions of the report stated.

It further recounted how traffic at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle was brought to a standstill for over two hours while residents struggled to remove floodwater from their homes using buckets.

The resurfaced publication has reignited public debate about Ghana’s longstanding flooding problem, particularly in Accra, where seasonal rains continue to cause destruction despite decades of government interventions.

Now, 66 years after the 1960 report, many Ghanaians say little appears to have changed as communities continue to experience devastating floods during heavy rains.

The issue became even more pronounced after the June 3, 2015 disaster, when torrential rains triggered widespread flooding before a deadly explosion at a GOIL filling station near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle claimed several lives and plunged the nation into mourning.

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That tragedy led to renewed promises from successive governments to address drainage challenges, improve urban planning and implement flood-control measures.

However, with flooding once again affecting parts of the capital in 2026, many citizens are questioning whether meaningful lessons have been learned over the years.

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