PHOTOS: Over 4,000 displaced by flooding in Ketu South

More than 4,000 people have been displaced following torrential rains that triggered widespread flooding across the Ketu South Municipality in the Volta Region.

The floods according, to the Volta Regional Correspondent of Channel One TV Desmond Selase Aggor on July 1, 2026, have affected over 2,000 households, destroying homes and property, contaminating water sources and leaving many residents without food, clean water and safe shelter.

The flooding, caused by heavy rains, has submerged several communities, with many areas becoming inaccessible.

The disaster has disrupted the lives of thousands of families, forcing many to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere while attempting to salvage their belongings.

Residents say the floodwaters have destroyed household items, damaged buildings and worsened already difficult living conditions. They also fear the situation could lead to an outbreak of waterborne diseases after drinking water sources were contaminated by floodwaters mixed with refuse.

In some affected communities, children were seen swimming in stagnant floodwater despite the associated health risks. Residents expressed concern that prolonged exposure to contaminated water could increase the incidence of infections if urgent interventions are not undertaken.

One affected resident, Sherif Ibrahim, attributed the severity of the flooding to poor drainage resulting from rapid development in the area. He said water had never accumulated in the community in the past, but construction activities had blocked the natural flow of water, causing floodwaters from surrounding areas to collect in residential neighbourhoods.

Another resident, Rashidatu Hamadu, said the floods had destroyed several household items and caused significant financial losses. She said refrigerators, sewing machines, clothing, footwear and other valuables had been damaged, while walls of some houses had collapsed. She added that domestic animals, including poultry, had also perished in the floods.

Affected residents are appealing to the government, humanitarian organisations and the general public to provide emergency relief items, including food, clothing, bedding and clean drinking water. They also called for long-term measures to address the recurring flooding in the municipality.

According to the residents, the absence of proper drainage channels has made the situation worse. They urged authorities to construct waterways to allow floodwaters to flow freely into nearby lagoons, stressing that many vulnerable people, including children, the elderly and women, have been left with nowhere to seek shelter.

The Ketu South Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ferguson Ahorlu, said assessment teams have been deployed to document the extent of the destruction and identify affected households. He explained that officials are compiling the names of victims to facilitate the distribution of relief support.

Ahorlu said preliminary assessments indicate that more than 4,000 people have been affected, although the figure is expected to rise as assessment teams continue their work in the affected communities. He noted that the Municipal Chief Executive, engineers and NADMO officials have already inspected the flood-hit areas to identify lasting solutions.

He said authorities are considering dredging some waterways and constructing additional drainage channels to direct floodwaters into the main lagoon and reduce the impact of future floods.

As residents continue to recover what they can from their damaged homes, they remain hopeful that swift government intervention and humanitarian assistance will help ease their hardship while permanent drainage solutions are implemented to prevent a recurrence of the disaster.