Rainwater finds ways into drains

Accra, June 15, GNA - Rainwater of a downpour early Monday morning did not flood Accra, as many residents had feared. The water went into the drains instead of homes.

In the recent past structures in waterways, riverbeds and choked gutters contributed to flooding in the Metropolis after heavy rainfall. The Meteorological Services Department told the Ghana News Agency that Monday's rainfall figure stood at 97.6 millimetres.

Mr Emos Narh, an Official of the Department said the rain was just a normal heavy rain, which was not expected to cause flood because it was not up to a 100 mm.

"Recent floods have been occurring because people have been building in water ways and river beds."

"In the 1960s and 70s, Accra experienced heavier rains which did not cause flooding because no one built in waterways then." He said as long as waterway were blocked problems of flooding were bound to continue.

A visit round the Metropolis by the GNA soon after the heavy rainfall that affected trading activities and made workers to report late for work revealed that most of the water had either found its way into drains or receded even within areas noted for floods such as Alajo and Avenor.

Interacting with Lieutenant Colonel Nick Sowatey (rtd), Deputy National Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) at about 1300 hours he said the Metropolis did not record any "disturbing news" relating to the early morning rains. He said: "No property nor life was recorded to have been lost though our staff are still out there monitoring.

"Places such as Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Alajo, Labadi 'T' Junction, Lashibi (Community 18) and areas around the SECAPS Hotel along the Legon Tetteh Quarshie roads recorded some floods during the early hours of the morning," he said.

Col. Sowatey urged the Ministry of Roads and Highway to put temporary indicators along big "drains during these times of rains to direct motorist during floods".

He advised residents to stop putting up houses within watercourses since those places were flood prone.