Rains Displace 30 People in Accra

AT LEAST 30 people made up of 18 families living in the Accra metropolis have been displaced by rains within the first six months of this year, even though the rains have not yet reached peak period, says Mr. Ben Brown, Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Giving the type of rain as one that occurs in 10, 20 and 50 years; he said the worst affected flood areas are Alajo, Anyaa, Sowutuom, Otordjor inter alia.

In an interview with Chronicle at the organization's regional office, he said the floods come when people use the drains as garbage containers and when they build houses in the bed of water.

According to him, when a place is developed, the normal vegetation is covered and this does not make way for the rains to erode the soil. "Poverty has also compelled people buy plots of land at cheaper prices, without taking into consideration the layout of the land" he noted.

Asked what could be done to prevent floods in the country, he said it couldn't be prevented since no country had succeeded in preventing it. What he said could be done to reduce its intensity was for the people to change their attitudes by not throwing garbage into gutters.

He therefore advised that Ghanaians adhere to the 30 metres stretch from riverbanks before putting up their buildings.

"The construction of the Odaw drainage system will also aid in solving the perennial flooding problem," he noted.

On the effects of floods in the country, he said floods affect commercial activities since when the roads get flooded, vehicles cannot move and people cannot go to work.

NADMO, he noted, has officials in flood-prone areas that observe, record, and help people displaced by floods.

Floods displaced about 1,700 people last year, which compelled the secretariat to build five camps in some flood-prone areas, where about 180 of them reported in.

He said those who reported at the camp underwent counselling in order to lessen the agonies they had gone through. "'They were also taught how to live together as a family in order prevent quarrels," he stressed.

Also, he said they are given monies to start a living. As a result of this, he noted that government spent ?350 million on those displaced by floods in the country.

He said NADMO is collaborating with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to clear houses that have been built on waterways.

On the issue of how the victims are rescued, Chronicle gathered that the fire service plays a co-coordinating role in getting them out of the flooded areas.

Mr. Brown said the police also protect the properties of the victims so as to prevent looting.

Touching on training, he stated that periodic courses are organised for the officers in disaster and relief management and relief and resettlement management.

He also said with assistance from the Information Services Department, the organization has plans to increase public education on floods and their effects.