Many residents of the Greater Accra Region and parts of the Volta Region are counting their losses after a sustained downpour experienced in the southern and middle parts of the country last Saturday left homes and streets flooded.
The rains, which started at about 1.30 p.m. from the southernmost parts of the Volta Region, hit Accra about 6.30 p.m and continued till the wee hours of Sunday [May 22, 2022].
Flood-prone areas such as Odawna, Abossey Okai, Kaneshie, Agbogbloshie and the Nungua Barrier in Accra were submerged, with many residents struggling to find sleeping places.
Many streets in the capital, including ceremonial roads, had flood waters on them, which has left debris and silt on some of them.
The most affected area was the Kaneshie-Odorkor stretch of the Accra-Kasoa road, which was overwhelmed by flood waters, making it impossible for vehicles to move last Saturday night.
Traffic on the Kasoa-Mallam road was disrupted by mudslides from the nearby disturbed hills and ridges up to yesterday morning.
The Kaneshie Market, the Kaneshie First Light and the Accra Academy portions of the K.A. Busia Highway were submerged, making pedestrian and vehicular movement virtually impossible.
When the Daily Graphic visited the Kaneshie enclave around 6 a.m. yesterday, the water had receded, but not without leaving behind a devastating impact.
It was observed that about 30 metres of the Accra Academy fence wall had been brought down by the floods, with other portions facing imminent collapse.
Portions of the tarred road between Accra Academy and Kaneshie First Light had also peeled off as a result of the intensity of the rain.
Some of the concrete slabs in the median of the road from Kaneshie First Light to Accra Academy were also removed by the water.The rain also left some communities in South Tongu, including Hlevi, Dabala, Dabala Junction, Xikpo, Agbagorme, Tordzinu, Detsawoeme and Gonu, flooded.
The Assembly Member for the Xikpo-Agbagorme Electoral Area in the South Tongu District in the Volta Region, Johnson Cobby Amedzo, said officials of NADMO had stopped providing the community with relief items due to the rampant nature of the challenge. He said the people would engage the authorities to construct a proper drainage system for the community, which got flooded at the least rainfall.
Aftermath
At the Kaneshie Market, the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, Odawna and Nungua in Accra, the Daily Graphic observed yesterday morning that some residents and traders were busily salvaging their wares and clearing debris for business to commence.
Some also used various means to get rid of stagnant water in their shops and rooms.
Agbogbloshie residents
Along the Abossey Okai-Agbogbloshie road, it was observed that the gutters were choked with plastics and other materials carried by the flood water.
Residents of the Old Fadama slum community at Agbogbloshie were also hard hit by the rains.
Many of them were seen clearing water from their rooms, while others dried personal effects in the sun.
One of the affected residents of Old Fadama, Michael Gyagri, told the Daily Graphic that his room had been inundated with flood water.
“Even though the rain has stopped, I am still trying to clear water from my room. The water keeps coming from beneath the ground. I will be sleeping with my friends until my room is fixed,” he said.
Source: Graphic Online