News Guide Africa

Tag: Central Region

  • Our actions, our future: Central Region rallies for massive post-flood national cleaning campaign

    Our actions, our future: Central Region rallies for massive post-flood national cleaning campaign

    By Staff Reporter

    Following recent devastating floods that submerged parts of the country, residents across the Central Region are mobilizing for a massive two-day sanitation drive. The initiative, part of the National General Cleaning Exercise scheduled for July 10 and 11, aims to restore local communities, clear vital waterways, and prevent future environmental disasters.

     

    ​In a powerful call to action, Comrade Joseph Mensah Abakah, popularly known as “Commander 1,” an aspiring Central Regional Organiser, urged all citizens to take personal ownership of their environments. He emphasized that the exercise is crucial to rebuilding the region’s resilience in the wake of seasonal floods.

     

    ​”Our actions, our future: cleaning Ghana after the floods,” Abakah declared in an official statement. “I respectfully urge every resident of the Central Region to join our Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities, community leaders, institutions, and volunteer groups in this important national assignment.”

     

    ​A collective duty to prevent disaster

    ​The two-day exercise focuses heavily on desilting choked gutters, clearing blocked drainage systems, and removing debris from major roadways factors that experts say drastically worsened recent flood levels across the region.

    ​Security agencies, local government officials, and community youth groups have already pledged their support to ensure a high turnout. Organizers stress that the cleanup is not just about aesthetics, but about public health and preservation.

     

    ​”It is a collective duty to restore our communities, protect lives, and safeguard the future,” Abakah noted, highlighting the practical benefits of the cleanup. “Every drain desilted and every roadway cleared strengthens our resilience against future floods.”

     

    ​Moving beyond government reliance

    ​Local traders and residents in Cape Coast and surrounding districts have expressed readiness to participate, acknowledging that past negligence in waste disposal has contributed heavily to perennial flooding.

    ​Abakah challenged residents to shift their mindset from relying solely on state interventions to embracing personal civil responsibility.

     

    ​”Let us approach this exercise with the same unity that has always defined our people,” Abakah urged. “Clean communities are not created by government alone; they are built by responsible citizens who understand that public welfare begins with personal commitment.”

     

    ​The exercise will commence early morning on both Friday and Saturday, with local assemblies providing logistics such as waste trucks, shovels, and protective gear to volunteer groups across all districts in the Central Region.

  • Tragedy in Accra: 5 dead, hundreds rescued as heavy floods and fires devastate capital

    Tragedy in Accra: 5 dead, hundreds rescued as heavy floods and fires devastate capital

    By Adnan Adams Mohammed 

     

    President Mahama and Interior Minister urge action as historic 140mm downpour, Odawna market fire, and road cut-offs leave thousands stranded.

     

    A multi-day torrential downpour has left a trail of devastation across the Greater Accra and Central regions, resulting in at least five confirmed deaths, one person missing, and the dramatic rescue of nearly 500 citizens trapped by rising waters.

    The severe crisis forced the government to issue emergency directives, while utility companies cut off power to heavily flooded sectors to prevent mass electrocutions. Following a comprehensive aerial tour of the capital, President John Mahama expressed deep concern over the unprecedented volume of rain and the human activities worsening the crisis.

    “I wish to express my deepest sympathy to all those who have lost property as a result of today’s floods. The damage has been extensive, and many families have been severely affected,” President Mahama stated, adding that preliminary data indicated a staggering 140 millimetres of rainfall had hit Accra in a single day.

    The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), working alongside the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the military, and the police marine unit, confirmed they had rescued a total of 479 people. However, the sheer volume of water overwhelmed several communities.

    “Our teams remained on high alert throughout the period, responding to dozens of flood emergencies, fire outbreaks, and even a structural collapse,” a GNFS spokesperson stated. “While we successfully moved 479 people to safety, we have recovered four bodies within the Adabraka-Odawna corridor alone, bringing the total death toll to five, while one female trader remains missing in Tema.”

     

    A father’s desperate plea

    As floodwaters rose rapidly, social media was flooded with harrowing videos of trapped residents. In one emotional video that went viral, an Accra father was captured standing on a semi-submerged rooftop, crying out to emergency workers: “Please, save my girls! The water is reaching the ceiling. Just take my daughters first!”

    Rescuers eventually reached the family, part of 105 people including 45 children safely evacuated during a joint operation at Tse-Ado Last Stop.

     

    Double disaster: Fire and water at Odawna

    The crisis took a bizarre and terrifying turn at the Odawna market area in Adabraka, where a massive fire broke out amidst the heavy flooding. Firefighters had to battle the inferno while wading through waist-deep waters.

    Compounding the hazard, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) executed emergency shutdowns of several substations.

    “We had no choice but to shut down power in parts of Accra due to safety measures,” an ECG official explained. “With the water levels submerging electrical installations and transformers, keeping the grid live would have resulted in catastrophic electrocutions for residents and rescuers alike. We ask for patience as we monitor the situation.”

     

    Roads severed and capital cut off

    The infrastructure damage extended far beyond the capital’s heart. The heavy deluge completely cut off the vital Winneba-Cape Coast highway, rendering it impassable and leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

    “We have been sitting here since morning,” said an aggrieved passenger stuck on the Winneba road. “The water is flowing like a river across the highway. No car can cross, and we are just praying the road doesn’t wash away completely.”

    In another near-miss, a four-storey building collapsed at Tabora No. 6 in Accra. Disaster was narrowly averted as all 12 occupants managed to evacuate just moments before the structure gave way.

     

    Enforcement and climate challenges

    Reflecting on his aerial assessment, President Mahama pointed to climate patterns and illegal human activities as major contributors to the disaster, noting that people have turned wetlands into refuse dumps and sold the land for housing development.

    “We must therefore tackle this challenge from both an engineering and an enforcement perspective by opening blocked channels and identifying structures obstructing the natural flow of water,” the President urged.

    With meteorological reports indicating that more rain is expected over the coming days, the Minister for the Interior issued a stern warning to residents of the capital to prioritize safety over economic activities.

    “We are tracking more incoming weather systems. I am strongly advising all Accra residents, especially those in low-lying and flood-prone areas, to stay home,” the Interior Minister warned. “Do not attempt to walk or drive through moving water. If your area is prone to flooding, please move to higher ground immediately.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ​Service Over Title: The Rising Call for Joseph Mensah Abakah

    ​Service Over Title: The Rising Call for Joseph Mensah Abakah

    In the landscape of regional politics, a shift is occurring that favors impact over imagery and results over rhetoric. At the center of this movement is Joseph Mensah Abakah, popularly known as Commander 1, whose tenure as Deputy Regional Organiser has redefined what it means to lead from the front.

     

    ​The Architecture of Presence

     

    ​For Abakah, leadership isn’t a desk job. While many in political circles gravitate toward high-walled offices, “Commander 1” has maintained a relentless presence on the ground.

     

    His philosophy is simple: Service is about impact, not profession. By remaining visible and accessible, he has bridged the gap between administrative decision-making and the daily realities of the grassroots. This “grounded” approach has fostered a level of trust that is rarely seen, turning political supporters into a motivated community.

     

    ​Empowering the Engine of Growth

     

    ​Beyond political mobilization, Abakah’s legacy is being written through his tangible support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Recognizing that the youth are the backbone of the Central Region, he has moved beyond promises to practical empowerment:

     

    ​Startup Support: Providing the foundational tools for young entrepreneurs to launch their ideas.

    ​Expansion Initiatives: Offering strategic guidance to small businesses looking to scale.

     

    ​Job Creation: Facilitating real-world opportunities that keep the local economy vibrant.

     

    ​”This is practical service,” noted one local shop owner in the Central Region. “He doesn’t just talk about the economy; he helps us build it.”

     

    ​A Record That Speaks

     

    ​The current electoral strength of the party within the Central Region and beyond is no accident. It is the result of consistent effort, deliberate coordination, and an unbreakable connection with the people. As Deputy Regional Organiser, Abakah’s fingerprints are on the party’s most successful grassroots operations.

     

    ​Because of this track record, a spontaneous call is rising from the base. The grassroots are not just asking for a leader; they are demanding the elevation of a man who has already proven his worth.

     

    ​The Path Ahead

     

    ​Leadership in the modern era is earned through work, and Abakah’s journey has been built brick-by-brick on performance. As the political season evolves, the direction remains clear. With the grassroots firmly behind him, Joseph Mensah Abakah continues to demonstrate that when you serve the people, the people will eventually call you to lead.

     

    ​”The results are visible, the impact is felt, and the grassroots are responding.”

  • NADMO Inspects Sites for Borehole Projects in Central Region

    NADMO Inspects Sites for Borehole Projects in Central Region

    The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has launched a borehole project in the Central Region as part of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) drought intervention program.

     

    The project aims to provide sustainable water infrastructure and mitigate the impact of erratic rainfall patterns and potential drought conditions.

     

    The Regional Director, Hon E.K. Dawood Mensah, emphasized that the initiative shifts NADMO’s focus from reactive relief to proactive disaster risk reduction.

     

    The boreholes will provide potable water access, agricultural support, and health security to thousands of residents in high-risk zones.

     

    The project is a result of a strategic partnership with ARC, allowing Ghana to access rapid financing and technical support for climate-related disasters. Contractors have been mobilized to the sites, with construction expected to be completed within months.

     

    The initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to using international climate finance for grassroots development and disaster risk reduction.