At least two dead as havoc caused by flood waters unfolds
At least two people have been confirmed dead as the effects of the havoc caused by Wednesday’s floods have begun to unfold.
Residents of several parts have been warned that one of the biggest threats to the public is electrocution from exposed electrical wires and at least one person has been confirmed as a victim.
President John Atta Mills, moved by reports of havoc caused by several hours of heavy rain in Accra and Tema overnight, is on a tour of affected areas to assess the extent of damage and to sympathise with the victims.
A lot of valuable property has been lost in the floods that have also disrupted some businesses and caused pain and distress to many residents across the two cities.
Residents of many parts of Accra have been wading through flood waters to reach their destinations.
President Mills has visited the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where the flood water from the Odaw River has swept away personal effects, containers and kiosks.
Vodafone, whose Accra North Offices are in the area, has been affected and staff have been asked to stay away until further notice.
Drains, streams and rivers are overflowing taking along personal property and goods. Many areas including Dansoman, Kasoa, Alajo, Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the Graphic Road are under water, with residents scooping water from their rooms and trying to save some personal effects.
At some points, residents in some areas had to climb on roof tops as they called for assistance. Floods in some areas are at window level and there are fears that with the waters moving southwards into the sea, the worst is yet to come.
At the A-Lang-Santa Maria-Odorgono Junction, the floodwaters began to rise at about midnight.
Personal effects and documents of residents have been damaged.
A bridge in the area cannot be crossed and residents are forced to stay at home.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana National Fire Service, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Ghana Police Service have gone into action in various places but the scale of the havoc means many people are still yet to receive assistance.
Roads and bridges have been cut and gullies have been created, thus cutting-off residents in many areas creating huge traffic jams in the city.
The Ashaiman underpass on the Accra-Tema Motorway has been flooded with commuters now walking across the speedway to either side of the tunnel.
An accident involving five vehicles on the Tema-Accra end built up a huge traffic, at a point stretching for about two kilometres.
The Minister of Education, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, has ordered all schools in Accra and Tema to remain closed for the day.
The chief executive of AMA has also advised commuters who do not have pressing businesses to conduct in the Central Business area to stay away to ensure the smooth running of relief efforts.
Accra, which is in a low-lying area, has had a perennial problem with floods. Haphazard development, flouting of building regulations and building on waterways have combined to compound the situation.
Source: GNA