Five dead, property destroyed in Accra floods

Accra, June 3, GNA - At least five persons have been confirmed dead and hundreds of residents have been forced out of their houses as floods wreaked havoc in parts of Accra after a downpour on Saturday evening. "We have five people dead," Greater Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Kwaku Dompreh told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Sunday.

The worst affected areas were in the west of the city around Mallam, Santa Maria and its immediate surroundings, Gbawe, Kwashie-Bu, Sakaman and Sowutuom, where many areas were under water. The rains, which started early in the afternoon continued until late in the night on Saturday and started again on Sunday morning. More rains are being expected.

When the GNA went round this morning to ascertain the extent of damage by the rains, many houses had been inundated with the flood waters and personal effects had either been destroyed or swept away. Most businesses had either shut up temporarily, as the floods deposited huge volumes of silt and garbage at their frontages. Others less affected by the floods were attending partially to customers as they observed the weather for signs of more rains.

Some residents were seen trying to bring out their water-drenched properties and personal effects to dry, even though the weather suggested there would be more rains.

Others were seen gathered in groups discussing the issue as more rain waters from uphill areas swept past their properties, causing more damage.

However, some who had managed to escape from their properties when the floods hit them, came back to salvage what was left of their belongings.

Some roads at Mallam, Gbawe and around the London Bridge area at Awoshie have been destroyed and kiosks have been swept away. Police, military, Fire Service and workers of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) were involved in an operation to rescue residents trapped by the rain, as well as assess the situation. As the rains poured down, many streams and rivers overflowed their banks, flood waters gushed through houses and roads causing havoc as the perennial flooding of Accra resurfaced. Residents cried out for help as they climbed any visible material to escape the floods.

There were chaotic traffic jams from the Darkuman Junction towards Odorkor, Kwashieman and Mallam.

Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim, a garage operator at Mallam told the GNA: "My business has been devastated by the flood. I took a loan from the bank to set up this place and look what has become of it............ I'm in a deep mess."

Another victim of the floods, Madam Okaitey who operates a fast food joint said: "Infact, I'm finished!

I least expected this to happen to me. I cater for my family from this business...........Oh God!!!

Inspector Dompreh attributed the extensive damage to to people building on water ways in the affected areas.

"As much as we sympathize with the flood victims, I don't foresee any reprieve for some of them, when they have chosen to put up their properties on water ways. And as you can see the weather, more rains are expected."

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Kwamena Bartels, who is also the MP for Ablekuma North is expected to visit the flood victims.

NB: Picture is from the Archives