Aboabo flood kills one, residents take to the streets
A downpour in some parts of the Kumasi Metropolis and the Asokore-Mampong Municipality last Saturday night claimed the life of one person while properties were destroyed.
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Those living along the Aboabo drain were trapped in their houses for more than 12 hours.
The deceased, who is yet to be identified, is believed to have fallen into a drain and washed towards an area near Kejetia.
Communities such as Dikyemso, Airport Roundabout and Anloga were severly affected in the Kumasi Metropolis while buildings along the Aboabo stream in the Asokore-Mampong Municipality were not spared.
Asokore-Mampong
But for the recent demolition of unauthorised structures along the Aboabo stream, many more lives and properties may have been lost in the area.
Those whose houses were submerged in the flood waters had to escape to safety, while those living in storey buildings were trapped for hours.
Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service later came to the rescue of the residents by evacuating them to safety, especially those whose building were submerged.
Demonstration
Some youth in the Asokore-Mampong area whose houses and other properties were affected by the flood yesterday took to the streets and demonstrated against what they described as inaction on the part of the authorities to address the perennial floods
They blocked the main road, burnt vehicle tyres and prevented vehicles from moving to and from the area.
It took the police and some fire service personnel about an hour to clear the road.
One of the demonstrators, Mr Abdel Mohammed, said apart from the silted stream, the bridge on the stream was badly constructed, thereby contributing to the flooding of the area.
MCE
But reacting to their concerns in an interview, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Nuhu Amidan, described the demonstration as unwarranted and surprising.
He attributed the flood to those who had constructed houses and other unauthorised structures along the Aboabo stream.
KMA
At the Airport Roundabout and Anloga Junction, both of which have filling stations, the fear of what occurred at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle filling station on June 3 haunted those living around and other persons using the area.
People could be seen running for their lives, while drivers never ventured into the flooded areas.
A resident of Anloga Junction, Mr Robert Kyei Anokye, expressed worry about the location of the filling station.
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According to him, the area often witnessed flooding each time it rained and wondered if the authorities were waiting for another disaster to occur before they act.