ACCRA IN FLOODS

Hours of intermitted downpour for two days in Accra yesterday caused floods which threatened to cut communication in various parts of the city. Some roads in the metropolis were affected making it difficult for motorists to ply them.

Major rivers like the Adaw and Onyasia appeared on the brink of breaking their banks, forcing some residents to desert their homes for higher and safer grounds. Waters in these rivers have been rising steadily since the rains started about 3 PM on Wednesday, raising fears of a possible flood disaster as happened on July 4, 1995 which claimed lives and property.

In the flood-prone areas like Odawna, Avenor and Zongo Junction, some residents waded through flooded streets with water at waist level, to direct motorist to safer points. Whilst some residents were seen carting their belongings into vehicles or pouch-carts to be taken to safer places, others looked dejected and carried items such as mats, tape recorders and buckets and suitcases among others.

It was realized that an area such as Asylum Down, near the Christian Methodist Secondary School which was greatly affected during the July rains in 1995, did not however suffer from the floods due to the construction of a bridge and desilting of the drains in the area. Some residents the Graphic spoke to commended the city authorities for desilting the major rivers which have been sources of flooding in recent years.

They said the exercise has helped in the swift flow of flash waters into the rivers, and thereby reduced the possibility of a major disaster. However, residents around the Odaw stream near Adabraka blamed the city authorities for the flooding in their area.

They said, filth, which was recently removed from the gutters, were left on the pavements, only to fall back into the gutters, contributing to the deplorable situation in their area. The residents called on the authorities to ensure the quick collection of filth each time it is removed from the drains.