Residents, offices gather the pieces after heavy rains

Last week’s heavy rains that got parts of Accra heavily flooded have left residences and offices in difficult situations as they try to gather the remains of their properties.

“Life after the flood has been difficult because we have lost a lot of things; some were also destroyed. We are currently gathering the pieces left but as to whether they would serve any use, we can’t tell for now,” a resident of Adabraka told The Spectator on Wednesday.

Along the North Industrial Area enclave, a number of office structures were flooded with water rising to unimaginable height.

The New Times Corporation (NTC) and other nearby establishments were not spared the flood ordeal as they became receptacles for excess water that were supposed to flow in the choked gutters around.

For workers of the NTC, the days after the flood were ones for cleaning and putting the offices in shape.

Staff had to get documents, furniture and other equipment dried, affecting production on the first day after the flood.

The situation was similar to what was seen in nearby offices where The Spectator visited.

Visits to some communities around ‘Circle’, Alajo, and Kaneshie revealed heaps of rubbish left behind by the flood waters.

In some of the areas, floodwaters have negatively impacted streets, gutters and homes with those areas littered with plastic waste, broken furniture, mud and other debris.

In some of the huge drains, vehicles were seen stuck in heavy mud.

This waste and stagnant pools of water have become a major concern for residents as they generated an unpleasant odour. A number of residents in the affected areas have since called for urgent intervention from local authorities.

Some residents said the waste has still blocked drains, increasing the risk of further flooding should the rains come again.

Others expressed concern that the accumulated rubbish could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and thereby, expose the communities to diseases such as malaria and cholera.

At the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and Odawna market areas, traders continue to tidy up their stalls and shops.

By Linda Abrefi Wadie