Ghana Red Cross launch GH¢8.3 Million emergency response for June flood victims

The Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS), with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has officially launched a Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) operation worth approximately GH¢8.3 million to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to 30,000 people affected by the devastating June 2026 floods across Greater Accra, Central, Volta and Western North regions.

The six-month emergency operation, unveiled during an official press briefing in Accra, aims to provide integrated support in shelter, health, water and sanitation, and livelihood recovery following one of Ghana's worst flooding disasters in recent years.

According to the Ghana Red Cross Society, the floods began after successive heavy rains in early June before escalating dramatically on June 29, 2026, when more than 13 hours of torrential rainfall overwhelmed rivers, streams and drainage systems, triggering widespread flooding across southern Ghana.

The disaster claimed 30 lives, left more than 70 people injured, while 30 others remain missing.

Overall, 69,867 people were affected, with thousands displaced after floodwaters submerged homes and communities. Families were forced to seek refuge in schools, churches and other public facilities as their homes were destroyed.

The humanitarian agency said the floods also caused extensive damage to roads, bridges and other public infrastructure, while more than 7,000 residents in the Central and Western regions alone were left homeless after their houses were washed away.

Beyond the physical destruction, the Red Cross warned of heightened public health concerns, citing contaminated water sources and overcrowded shelters that increase the risk of outbreaks of cholera, acute diarrhoeal diseases and malaria.

In response, the Ghana Red Cross immediately activated its emergency response mechanisms by deploying 10 staff members and 50 volunteers to assist government-led search and rescue operations, administer first aid, provide psychosocial support and conduct rapid needs assessments in affected communities.

However, officials acknowledged that the magnitude of the disaster exceeded the Society's immediate response capacity, prompting the activation of the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund.

Under the DREF operation, the Ghana Red Cross will provide emergency shelter support to 2,000 vulnerable households, including the distribution of 150 shelter kits, 2,000 blankets and 2,000 kitchen sets, while trained volunteers will assist beneficiaries with safe shelter construction and minor repairs.

To help families recover economically, the Society will provide unconditional multipurpose cash assistance to 1,050 vulnerable households, representing about 5,250 people.

Each household will receive GH¢1,200 through mobile money platforms, allowing families to prioritize essential needs such as food, healthcare, shelter repairs and other urgent expenses.

Health interventions under the operation include the distribution of 2,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets targeting children under five, pregnant women and the elderly, alongside the training of 200 volunteers in community health promotion, psychosocial support, first aid and disease surveillance.

Additionally, 7,000 social and behaviour change communication materials, including posters, flyers and flipcharts, will be distributed to educate affected communities on disease prevention and healthy practices.

Recognising the heightened risk of water-borne diseases, the Red Cross has prioritised Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions.

The programme includes the distribution of 1,700 hygiene and dignity kits to 850 households, 20,000 Aquatabs for safe drinking water treatment to 2,000 households, and the installation of 50 handwashing stations in schools, health facilities and markets.

Another 200 volunteers will be trained in hygiene promotion, infection prevention and control, and community clean-up campaigns, while 500 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be supplied to volunteers and staff supporting the operation.

The Ghana Red Cross stressed that the intervention will fully integrate Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) principles, ensuring priority support for women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and female-headed households.

The Society also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding policies, including Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), child protection and whistleblower mechanisms, with all staff and volunteers expected to adhere strictly to the organisation's Code of Conduct.

Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) will remain central to the operation through the establishment of feedback and complaint mechanisms to ensure affected communities actively participate in decision-making. The CEA programme is expected to reach 240,000 people directly and 300,000 indirectly.

The Ghana Red Cross said it is implementing the operation in close collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), government agencies and humanitarian partners through the national Emergency Operations Centre and district-level coordination platforms to avoid duplication and maximise available resources.

The organisation further acknowledged the technical and operational support of the IFRC Country Cluster Delegation and the Africa Regional Office in delivering the emergency intervention.

Calling for sustained national support, the Ghana Red Cross described the June floods as a stark reminder of Ghana's increasing vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events.

It appealed to government institutions, development partners, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector and the media to continue supporting humanitarian efforts to provide relief, prevent further suffering and strengthen community resilience against future disasters.

The Society reaffirmed its commitment to standing with affected communities throughout the recovery process while continuing to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience across Ghana.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith