Flood victims evacuated in Accra

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has started emergency evacuation of victims of the floods that hit Accra on Friday morning.

Residents of flood-prone suburbs such as Banana Inn, Sakaman, Odawna and Alajo would be temporarily accommodated at NADMO disaster lodging point at

Mateheko. A member of the Greater Accra Flood Committee, Mr Michael Forson, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, advised the victims to exercise restraint and co-operate to find lasting solution to the perennial flooding.

Mr Forson, who is also a Sanitary Engineer at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), told the affected residents of plans by the central government to improve upon the drainage systems in their areas.

A survey by GNA at some of the flood-prone areas revealed signs of desperation, disappointment and anger among residents whose property had been soaked or destroyed by the rains. Some of them accused their Members of Parliament and officials of AMA for not doing enough to solve the problem.

They alleged that the MPs had not even visited them to see the gravity of the situation. The heavy rains, which started on Thursday night, have flooded roads and other properties within the metropolis, displacing hundreds of households and forcing early morning commuters to detour their regular routes.

The Meteorological Services Department said as at midday on Friday, 119millimetres of rain had fallen at the Accra Airport area. Total rainfall for only 14 days in June amounted to 288.7 millimetres, compared with a normal June average of 221 millimetres.

MSD said they expected the rains to continue throughout the day and even more rains during the month. Heavy rains from Sunday night to Monday morning caused severe flooding and loss of property in several areas of Accra.