Abuakwa South: One feared dead, thousands displaced following Sunday downpour

A catastrophic downpour on Sunday, June 14, 2026, has left a trail of destruction across the Abuakwa South Municipality, displacing thousands of residents and leaving one person feared dead after being trapped in an illegal mining pit.

The torrential rains turned streets into rivers, overwhelming drainage systems and sweeping through homes across several communities. The most critical incident occurred in Akyem Odumase, where a miner remains trapped deep underground after a galamsey (illegal mining) site was engulfed by floodwaters. As of press time, rescue efforts were still underway to retrieve the victim, though hopes of a rescue are fading.

According to Aikins Ofori, the Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the impact of the storm was widespread. The hardest-hit areas include Kibi Zongo-Pano, the Mines Electoral Area, New Town (Apostolic), Rasta Junction, Domeabra, and Kyebi Odumase.

"The situation is dire," Aikins Ofori said, addressing the recurring nature of the disaster. He attributed the severity of the floods to a combination of human activity and poor urban planning. "We are seeing the consequences of construction in watercourses, poorly planned structures, and the indiscriminate dumping of waste in our drains. Furthermore, unregulated mining has decimated our natural water channels, leaving the soil unable to absorb heavy rainfall."

In the wake of the devastation, NADMO officials have completed an initial assessment of the damage. Aikins Ofori confirmed that he is scheduled to meet with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Addo Aikins Jnr, to finalise relief packages for the thousands now left homeless and to devise long-term strategies to mitigate future flood risks.

However, the victims themselves are calling for more than just temporary aid. Many residents have pointed to the unchecked expansion of illegal mining activities as the primary driver behind the worsening floods.

"The water has nowhere to go because the land has been turned into pits," one survivor noted.

Affected community members are urging the government to take aggressive, decisive action to end the galamsey menace that continues to threaten their livelihoods and safety.

With weather reports indicating more heavy rainfall in the coming days, the NADMO Director has issued a stern warning to the public.

"We are urging residents to refrain from building in flood-prone zones and to stop treating gutters as refuse dumps," Aikins Ofori stated.

He also made a direct appeal to those involved in illegal mining, saying, "You must take responsibility for restoring the lands you have mined. NADMO remains committed to safeguarding lives, but we need the cooperation of every citizen to overcome this catastrophe."

For now, the people of Abuakwa South remain in a state of uncertainty as clean-up efforts begin and the search for the missing miner continues.