When the floods came...

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday June 24, 2009
Government is considering banning the use of plastic materials, Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Deputy Minister Roads and Highways has said after inspecting areas in Accra hit by Friday night’s floods.

Mr. Mettle-Nunoo who was over the weekend busily involved in the direction of traffic with police at the Kaneshie First Light said floods have been extensive because plastic waste has prevented volumes of water from flowing through drains.

He told The National Star (TNS) the decision to ban plastic waste and other non biodegradable materials “enforces government’s commitment to look at the plastic waste menace which cannot be allowed go on unchecked,” he said.

It is still unclear how many people died in the floods. While confirmed media reports put the death toll at seven, others say those who lost their lives are more than ten.

Last Friday’s heavy downpour did not come as a surprise but the extent of damage has overwhelmed everybody.

The floods destroyed property worth thousands of Ghana cedis. The extent of damage is likely to impact government’s coffers and also eat deep into the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) budget.

Residents in Bubiashie, Darkuman Junction, Mallam, Santa Maria, Gbawe, Kwashie-Bu, Sakaman and Sowutuom among others were affected but the extent of damage caused by the floods in Kaneshie was beyond comprehension.

The force of the current wiped off the asphalted surface of the Kaneshie-Odokor Highway between the Kaneshie Market and the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle, rendering it unmotorable. It has since brought extremely heavy traffic on that stretch of the road. Pavements, fitted with blocks were also not spared.


Flush floods rushed through shops and homes especially those facing the Kaneshie market and went as far as the Takoradi lorry station. Other areas experienced similar problems.
The rain produced heavy traffic as many roads leading to Mallam and its environs were cut off. Commuters who could not stand the traffic trekked on foot while other motorists abandoned their cars for fear of being swept away by the current.

Many cars and other structures were either washed away or destroyed by the rains.
A government delegation in conjunction with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) was on hand to assess the extent of damage in almost all flood prone areas of the city.

Earlier on Saturday, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Dr. Alfred Vanderpuije led a delegation to inspect the devastation where he reiterated the need to decongest the city.
Published in The National Star