Floods overwhelm Accra, frustrate commuters
The nation’s capital, Accra, was once again inundated following heavy rainfall last Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
The flooding left hundreds of commuters stranded and caused severe traffic congestion on major roads across the capital.
Areas affected included Adentan, Dansoman, Tetegu, Kaneshie, the Graphic Road and Odawna at Adabraka, East Legon Hills and sections of the Accra Central Market.
The flooded roads resulted in long queues of vehicles on several major routes, with motorists struggling to navigate through the rising waters.
As a result, some vehicles became stranded after getting stuck in the floodwaters.
Pedestrians
Many pedestrians were also compelled to walk through flooded streets to their destinations, while some residents and workers remained trapped in their homes and workplaces.
The Odaw River was full to the brim and nearly overflowed its banks following the downpour.
One building caught fire in the Central Business District while another collapsed in Adentan in the Adentan Municipality.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, in a statement, expressed regret over the incidents and sympathised with families who lost loved ones and those affected by the disasters.
“The collapse of a multi-storey building at Adentan in the Adentan Municipality, the devastating fire outbreak in the Central Business District, and the widespread flooding experienced across parts of the capital are painful reminders of the challenges confronting our city,” the statement said, and stressed the need for greater compliance with planning regulations and stronger enforcement of existing laws.
The statement further announced several measures aimed at improving public safety and reducing flood risks across the region, which it said included a comprehensive audit of ongoing and recently completed multi-storey developments, removal of unauthorised structures in waterways, drainage reservations and road reservations, as well as stricter enforcement of planning and development regulations.
The statement also announced measures to strengthen sanitation enforcement, eliminate indiscriminate dumping of waste, and improve institutional accountability among public agencies responsible for development control.
