A flooded area in Accra
The nation’s capital on Saturday and Sunday experienced one of its heaviest downpours this year which destroyed unquantifiable property and inflicting anguish to many households.
Kasoa in the Central Region to the Kaneshie parts of Accra and to other low-lying areas bore the brunt of the deluge but Weija low lands appeared to be the worst hit.
Social media was awash with pictures and stories about the experiences of victims of the pain suffered by a cross section of residents and commuters, some of the latter having had to flee the vehicles on which they were travelling.
Overturned vehicles, the fallout of the strong currents in the road-turned drainage, were a feature of the worst affected parts of the city and parts of the Central Region.
For those who have hardly taken the climate change phenomenon seriously, Saturday’s deluge offered them a lesson that would compel them to change their minds.
October is not known to be characterized by such deluges, but this is what is being witnessed across some parts of the West African sub-region.
Some of the victims of the floods in Accra have in the past weeks witnessed pictures of flooded parts of the northern parts of the country, including Tamale, unknowing to them the nation’s capital will have its share of the unusual torrential downpours.
No casualty has been recorded at the time of filing this report. The skies are still active with clouds pointing at possible downpours as at yesterday noon.
Salvaging Property
On Sunday morning, the spectacle of residents salvaging what remained of their property was the feature of the flooded areas.
Defiant Waters
For those who managed to watch the gushing waters from all angles, they could not but witness how the currents change their direction upon meeting structures constructed on their paths.
SOS
Affected persons have called upon government to come to their assistance.
It is difficult to determine what government would do at this point when some residents completely flouted directives not to build on waterways.
One man said he saw his car being washed away by the strong currents, but he was not in a position to resist the force of nature.
State Intervention
SOS calls to the Army which dispatched personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment to the scene of the floods, the Navy went a long way in controlling the effects of the floods.
Coordinating the relief operations was Eric Nana Agyemang, head of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
The Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at the NADMO headquarters in Accra featured a flurry of activities as officials were engaged in sending assistance where it was needed.
Complaints
Stressed residents who were at the jaws of the floods expressed anger at NADMO personnel for not being active, something the emergency agency denied.
Explaining, NADMO said the Army, Navy and others did not come to the rescue of residents from the blues but did so upon an invitation from them.
NADMO added that six search and rescue teams were active during the floods; their activities being under the direction of the state emergency agency.
In June this year, a similar downpour claimed lives and
NADMO personnel and soldiers jointly rescued some 20 persons trapped by the floods which followed.
Odawna, a notorious flood-prone part of the city, bore the brunt of the torrential downpour.
Desilting, Choked Gutters
The onset of the rains is met with desilting exercises under the direction of the state but these have largely being unable to stop the floods.
The volume of filth dropped into drainages by reckless residents is mammoth, something which impedes the free flow of rainwater during such moments.
By A.R. Gomda