The recent floods in Accra and the neighbouring areas, which were brought on by a heavy downpour, were very catastrophic and caused loss of lives and property damage.

Similar severe flooding and downpours were also reported in other regions, which has caused anxiety and dread whenever it rains. 

In a short period of time, the floods had a dangerous effect on entire communities and landscapes. Because of this, a lot of people are now temporarily putting up with friends or family members.

Videos that went viral on social media showed cars and other valuables being swept away by the floodwaters with little to nothing being done to stop them.

Certain organisations, including the New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, were not spared because the flood level damaged important documents and swamped their premises.

Even locations outside of flood-prone zones were inundated by the floods.

The rains would intensify along with thunderstorms, according to the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), which is tasked with observing, analysing, and disseminating weather and climate information to protect lives, promote economic planning, and maintain public safety.

It is important to remember that increased evaporation and atmospheric moisture due to climate change might intensify rainfall. Furthermore, more catastrophic floods are caused by heavy rainfall and shifting topography.

We discussed the causes of floods and mitigation strategies in our earlier editorial, “Accra floods necessitate change in attitude.”

Although the current flood situation is dire, safety can be greatly improved by being ready and understanding what to do.

The Spectator encourages the public to make an effort to be well-informed about weather predictions and take the required precautions to stay safe because the GMet is now providing accurate forecasts.

Make excellent use of the alert services that you can sign up for these days to get notifications on your phone.

Water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, prescription drugs, crucial documents in waterproof containers, and first aid supplies should all be prepared and kept readily available.

Safeguard your house and offices, relocate valuables to higher floors, and raise electrical appliances off the ground.

Avoid coming into contact with floodwater whenever you can since it might be tainted with chemicals, sewage, and other dangerous substances and also reptiles.

To make sure your neighbours are secure, it is crucial to check on them, especially if they are elderly, disabled, or living alone.

Additionally, parents need to make sure their children do not play in or close to floodwaters.

Let us be careful as there are floods everywhere.

Dear Editor,

I had a bad experience last Sunday on my way to church in the morning.

Seated with my son and another passenger at the back seat of a taxi with glasses fully rolled down to enjoy fresh air, a private car sped past us and eventually, splashed the dirty rain water gathered on the street on us.

Our dresses became dirty and wet, leaving us in a confused state as to whether to return home or continue to church.

The driver and passenger sitting on the front seat were not left out. That unfortunate situation I experienced was the second time.

Earlier, a similar incident occurred at the North Industrial Area where a Taxi driver splashed water on passengers but he had the courtesy to slow down to apologise to them.

I get the feeling this level of irresponsibility on the part of some drivers must be checked. It must be added to the many educational campaigns roll out to drivers, especially during the rainy season.

Drivers must be aware that when they drive through stagnant water on the streets, they must exercise some caution or drive slowly to avoid such situations.

Splashing a pedestrian with water while driving is an offence in some jurisdictions, especially the UK, where it is legally defined as “driving without reasonable consideration.”

Deliberately or carelessly soaking someone on the pavement can result in severe fines and penalty points on one’s license.

I don’t know about Ghana but if such laws exist in our books, then in seasons like this, we should try and enforce them. These actions can result in chaos if not checked.

Eben Quao,

Kaneshie