Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has issued a public apology after torrential rains triggered widespread flooding across Accra, killing at least nine people and destroying homes and property.
“We are really very sorry for the loss of life,” Mr. Muntaka said during an appearance on JoyNews “We are sorry that this has really devastated Accra.”
The minister acknowledged that authorities could have done more to mitigate the disaster but said government agencies had worked through the night to coordinate the emergency response.
Mr. Muntaka said Ghana had received seasonal forecasts indicating that June and July would bring above-normal rainfall. However, he argued that the specific warning for Monday’s storm arrived only at about 11 p.m. on Sunday, leaving little time to alert the public.
In response, he said he contacted Communications Minister Samuel George to coordinate with telecommunications companies to send emergency text messages to mobile phone users, describing the effort as a model for future disaster preparedness.
He also disclosed that discussions had begun at the Presidency to strengthen coordination among ministries during emergencies. According to Mr. Muntaka, the Secretary to the President will convene relevant ministers to improve planning and response ahead of future extreme weather events.
The minister said Ghana’s limited resources constrained its ability to respond to disasters on the scale witnessed in Accra, noting that the country lacks sufficient emergency shelters to accommodate displaced residents.
While conceding that government preparedness could be improved, Mr. Muntaka rejected suggestions that public officials had been indifferent or complacent.
“I agree we could do more,” he said, adding that ministers were actively engaged throughout the crisis rather than neglecting their responsibilities.
Mr. Muntaka said he remained awake overnight monitoring developments and was in regular contact with President John Mahama, who, he said, closely followed the situation before visiting affected communities.
The minister argued that the intensity of Monday’s rainfall made significant flooding difficult to prevent, suggesting that only a drainage system capable of handling virtually all runoff across Accra could have fully contained the volume of water.
Source:TheDotNews