The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) region has placed security and emergency services on heightened alert ahead of the peak rainy season and the annual Homowo festival, citing flood risks in several communities across the country’s capital.

REGSEC, chaired by Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, said Wednesday (10 June) that it had adopted an emergency preparedness plan aimed at reducing the impact of seasonal flooding while ensuring security during upcoming traditional celebrations.

Officials identified a number of flood-prone areas requiring urgent attention, including parts of Odawna, Adabraka, Alajo, Madina, Osu and Abelemkpe, as well as sections of the Weija-Gbawe, Ga West and Ga East municipalities.

The Regional Coordinating Council said local authorities had been directed to intensify desilting operations and remove waste blocking drains and waterways before the onset of heavier rains.

“Sanitation task forces have been ordered to carry out immediate clearance of silt, debris and illegal waste deposits in major drainage channels,” the council said in a statement.

The security plan also includes increased patrols and intelligence-gathering operations around Homowo celebrations, one of the most important traditional festivals of the Ga people. Authorities said the measures were intended to prevent disturbances linked to chieftaincy and land disputes that could arise during large public gatherings.

Emergency agencies, including the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana National Fire Service, have prepared evacuation, crowd-control and traffic-management arrangements for areas considered vulnerable.

Residents living in flood-risk communities were urged to remain alert and follow official safety advisories. NADMO has identified temporary shelters and may relocate residents if rising water levels pose an immediate danger, officials said.

“The safety and well-being of our citizens remain our foremost priority,” Ocloo said. “We call on every resident of Greater Accra to cooperate fully with the authorities, observe safety precautions and report emergencies promptly.”

Greater Accra experiences recurrent flooding during the rainy season, often resulting in damage to property, displacement of residents and disruption to transport and economic activity.