Business picks up after the rain at shopping mall

Accra, March 27, GNA - Business picked up at the newly constructed Pedestrian Shopping Mall at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle barely 24 hours after a torrential rainfall had flooded the market and allegedly swept part of wares of traders away. The stalls and other wooden structures remained undamaged the traders displayed their wares and traders were seen negotiating with their prospective buyers.

Speaking to the GNA at Circle, Madam Akosua Acheampong, a second hand cloth dealer said even though her wares were wet she had dried them and she was still selling.

Madam Acheampong said the flood that engulfed the market in the early hours of the rain on Monday was due to the inability of the authorities to open the emergency exit gate, which could have minimized the level of the flood.

She pleaded with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to open the emergency exit gate to the public to ensure that customers to have easy access to the mall.

Mr Yaw Adjei, a second hand shoe dealer said even though there was flood at the market for a short while, the water receded within 12 hours as it drained into the Odowna river.

He said the closure of the emergency exit gate at the market had effect on their sales and therefore appealed to the AMA to open the gate. An attempt t o reach the Mayor of AMA for clarification proved futile as he was said to be engaged in meetings.