INTERIOR MINISTER: NO FATALITIES IN ODORNA MARKET AND TEMA FIRES AS GOVERNMENT TARGETS GH¢350 MILLION FOR FLOOD RELIEF

The Minister for the Interior,  Muntaka Mubarak has informed Parliament that the government is mobilizing GH¢350 million from the Contingency Fund to support flood victims and strengthen flood mitigation measures following the recent floods in Accra.

Providing an update to Parliament, the Minister disclosed that a fire broke out at Odorna Market at approximately 8:08 a.m. during the peak of the heavy rainfall. Emergency response teams brought the blaze under control by 11:33 p.m., and it was completely extinguished by 2:32 a.m. the following morning. Although numerous makeshift structures were destroyed, no lives were lost.

The Minister also reported that a separate fire incident occurred in Tema. However, the fire was less severe, and no casualties were recorded.

He further revealed that a newly constructed four-storey building collapsed at Taboola during the flooding. According to the Minister, all occupants had evacuated the building before it gave way, and no injuries or deaths were recorded.

Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak stated that following an aerial assessment of the flood-affected areas by the President, the government is seeking to release GH¢350 million from the Contingency Fund to respond to the disaster.

He explained that GH¢200 million will be used to provide relief items to more than 10,000 affected households along the coast, while GH¢150 million will be dedicated to flood mitigation projects in vulnerable coastal communities.

The Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting affected families and strengthening disaster preparedness to reduce the impact of future flooding.