At least seven reported dead in Accra floods

Seven people have been reported dead and about 25 were seriously injured following severe flooding in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, Accra Regional Police Commander Kwame Marfo said on Thursday. Damage to property and infrastructure has been estimated at about seven billion cedi (US $ 1million). Over 5,000 people are reportedly homeless.

Six hours of rain on Wednesday exposed the woeful inadequacies of the city’s drainage systems and poor urban planning. The walls of many homes in the Alajo, East Legon, Maamobi, Aweshie, Abeka and Madina neighbourhoods were broken. Furniture and electronic equipement were damaged by the flood waters.

The flooding was so bad in some areas that people had to climb onto the roofs of their houses to avoid drowning. Cross-country vehicles were submerged in low-lying areas. The military, police and fire services were marshalled to rescue people stranded on rooftops and ferry them to safety in boats .

The Ghanaian government has announced the setting up of a committee chaired by Minister of Presidential Affairs Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey to see how the affected people can be helped to resettle. Its immediate aim is to provide materials to rehabilitate damaged homes, and blankets and clothes for the many who have lost all or most of their belongings.