A seven hour down pour Wednesday night submerged Ghana’s capital city, Accra and in the process isolated some streets and communities from one another. The heavy rainfall which began around 5pm and ended around 12am was accompanied by thunder storm and lightening. Areas in and around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle were the worst affected leading to a Goil filling station near the Ghana Commercial Bank catching fire and in the process razing it and portions of the Pedestrian Shopping Mall down.
This reporter, who ventured out of the heavy downpour, witnessed as first hand destruction to several properties running into millions of Ghana Cedis as well as an unconfirmed death toll. Cars were virtually “swimming” in the flooded streets with the not too strong ones being washed away by the torrents.
Many people had to abandon their vehicles due to the threat to their lives and property. Some had to watch their vehicles float helplessly from their reach.
Workers and Commuters who tried rushing home were stranded for close to four hours in the cold, stormy weather.
Frantic phone calls were made across the city, temporarily jamming some communication networks. Some offices
and homes had their fair share of the floods raising a serious concern for people located in flood prone areas with some residents climbing on roof tops and high grounds in a desperate attempt to save their lives.
The worsening Electricity situation wasn’t spared as almost the entire city was engulfed in darkness. The grid lock which affected the Achimota sub-station was attributed to the torrential rains, forcing an emergency power cut.
Being the second day of heavy rains in the city following a similar downpour on Tuesday dawn, one can only hope that the heavens will give the city some respite so affected people can count their losses before the rains pour again.
The GOIL fuel filling station near the Ghana Commercial Bank towers at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra had its fair share of ordeal as it was gutted by fire on Wednesday amidst heavy flooding in the city. Dozens of people, who sought refuge there, were trapped and burnt beyond recognition as personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service who arrived at the scene, struggled to douse the fire.
Meanwhile the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo says the regional security committee has already deployed a joint police-military force to provide assistance in one area or the other.
In a related development, Government has appealed for calm among the city’s residents and urged the public to stay away from fast moving rainwater, and areas they know have big drains.
A statement released by the Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah also added that personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organization have been deployed to intervene and provide emergency services to affected persons.
The statement also advised the public to stay on higher ground, where possible, to prevent loss of life and provided some emergency lines for security and emergency services.
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“Please remain calm, restrict your movement as much as possible as we work assiduously to address this national emergency,” the statement stressed.
ekow.annan@ymail.com/twitter: ekowskare
