ACCRA HIT BY FLOODS

The nation's capital Accra has been hit by floods described by many as the worst in recent memory. Ghanaians, suffering from a prolonged season of drought which led to the rationing of electricity have been praying for rain. The rain did indeed come, but in a twist of fate, Ghana was not prepared for the amount of rain that fell on its hallowed soils.

The rains started late last week stretching the virtually collapsed drainage system in Accra to its limit. Over the weekend, the clouds continued to gather and once again the torrential rainstorms hit the city and several other towns in the southern part of the country. This led to the disruption of the entire telecommunication network in the country and cut off the country from the outside world. Several workers who braved the storms to go to work on Monday were marooned and had to stay at their work places till Wednesday when the waters receded.

Ghana Review reporters in Accra estimated the damages caused by the rain in billions of cedis. Several shops were crushed by the rains with their wares floating on the waters. Vehicles in the worst affected areas particularly, Odorna, Alajo, Nima, Adabraka (near the Kwame Nkrumah circle) were submerged in the water. At least 20 corpses have so far being recovered but the number of casualties is expected to rise. With further rains forecast for Accra and most other southern areas in Ghana the situation is not bound to get better. Ghana Review expresses its condolence to those who have lost property and loved ones and calls on all Ghanaians to rally to the aid of the nation in whatever tangible way they can.