Unexpected Rain Floods Accra Again

The metrological departments had not predicted its coming but heavy rains on Thursday afternoon, pounded some parts of the capital leaving behind the thousands of shards that comes with it.

In Accra, the downpour had started at different times, at different places―making it look like some scheduled event.

As at the time our reporter was at Korle-Bu, which was utterly dry, reports had it that it had begun raining heavily at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and at other parts of the city.

The heavy rains lasted barely 30 minutes but it left some vital parts of the city flooded―causing waterlogging, traffic jams and exposing the filth hidden in the drains.

The question raised by a cross section of the public is that, “if less than an hour’s downpour could bring about heavy flooding, what would be the result of a torrent that continues for days?”

THE PUBLISHER, monitoring the aftermaths of the rain from the Graphic road, Obetsebi Lamptey Circle and Kaneshie areas through to Darkuman, presented to us wrecked hopes.

The hope that we would one day see a Ghana free from the bane that comes with heavy rains, splits before our very eyes.

At Kaneshie and its environs, the aftermath of the rain was so severe that some commuters had to be carried at the back of strong and hefty men to cross the ‘river’ that had been created.

For others at the Darkuman-Kokompe area, it was an opportunity to make extra money. Commuters had to pay a fee before crossing a foot bridge that some residents had constructed. The roads had been split in two by a flood―hiding the drains.

Agbeko a driver who plies the Kaneshie-Kasoa highway said, “These days we cannot depend on government to deal with the flooding situation. We all have to learn how to swim so that when it becomes serious, we can swim our way out.” 

Revisit the Blue Print

Meanwhile, former Mayor of Accra, Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije says to curb this challenge, the Ministry of Works and Housing (MWH) must revisit a blueprint left by the former regime.

Speaking on Accra based Radio Gold, he noted that the blueprint left by his government outlined strategies to deal with flooding and poor sanitation in the capital city.

“I haven’t seen the Korle being dredged in a long time…we were dredging it before we left office. President Mahama made sure that at least from Kwame Nkrumah Circle, to the Odaw, to the Korle, we were dredging it,” Mr Vanderpuije indicated.

He added that dredge masters and equipment used for the exercise have since been left obsolete.

According to the former Mayor, “June and July are upon us and these are periods where the Odaw and the Korle needs to flow” to avoiding flooding.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]