Parts of Keta Market in the Volta Region have been submerged after over four hours of heavy downpour in the early hours of Friday, September 12, 2025.
The flood appeared to be linked to several factors such as choked gutters, improper site planning and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, which allegedly contributed to the situation.
Madam Seyram Amidu, a resident of Keta Central, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that the floodwaters have submerged parts of the market including the entrance, roads and the lorry station.
“I thanked God today is not Market Day, else it would have been a different story. The flood waters have entered stores, and many places are no longer accessible; it will pose risks to food safety and storage,” she said.
She explained that many rely on daily sales for income and the flood disruptions could severely affect the economic stability and called for urgent intervention to curb losses and support traders, who may be affected by the flood.
She said proper drainage systems were crucial to mitigate the flooding situation and appealed to the officials including the Keta Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Wisdom Seade to help construct flood-resistant infrastructure such as gutters to enhance easy flow of water to prevent future occurrences.
“The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has to come in and assess the damage and provide necessary support to the victims.”
Meanwhile, Keta has experienced similar flooding in the past and was reported by the GNA in 2023, which displaced many homes in Vui, Tetekope, Nukpesekope, Dzelukope, Abutiakope among others.
Flooding in Keta has also affected schools, with institutions like Keta Senior High Basic School, Norlivime Basic, Bishop Herman Basic, and others, who experienced inundation and disrupted learning activities and posed challenges for students and educators.
The GNA understands that Keta is a low-lying area and prone to flooding situations which impacted several residential neighbourhood and farmlands.
It also forced others to often take measures like building makeshift barriers which may not suffice against severe flooding.
Traders and residents have also appealed to the authorities to as a matter of urgency use part of revenues generated in the market to construct gutters and build proper and stronger drainage system to mitigate further flooding for smooth business transactions.
The GNA also observed that many roads within the Keta township were flooded making it difficult for motorists to access.