Rain causes floods in Koforidua

A two-hour downpour in Koforidua last Sunday left parts of the Eastern regional capital flooded when some streams and rivers burst their banks and submerged houses, roads and shops.

The floodwaters ran through residential areas, submerging mechanic workshops, chop bars, a church, block factories, filling stations and car washing bays.

The affected areas included Koforidua-Zongo, Yaw Kyeremakrom,  Abrewa-Nkwanta along the Akwadum-Koforidua highway, Nsukwao, Asokore, Oyoko and Effiduase.

Over 200 residents of Koforidua Zongo, who were hard-hit by the floods, have become stranded as the floods submerged their rooms and destroyed properties and food items they had bought to celebrate the Eid-ul-Adha.

Eid items destroyed

Foodstuffs such as rice, maize, yam and vegetables stored in readiness for the celebration of the Eid-ul-Adha were all destroyed yesterday.

Residents in the affected areas complained bitterly about the local government authority’s failure to fix the poor drainage system in the communities.

Muslim families in Koforidua Zongo and other areas were unable to celebrate the Eid-ul-Adha, which was to be marked by feasting and merrymaking.  . 

The affected Muslim residents could not also go to the mosque to pray since the floodwaters had soaked their clothings. 

 A vehicle swept into a gutter by the floods 

Residents cleaning

When the Daily Graphic visited the flood-hit areas, residents were still counting their losses, cleaning and scooping water from their rooms.

Lamin Mohammed was found busily cleaning her room. According to her, she was not able to celebrate the Eid due to the heavy rains and accompanying floods. 

"All our belongings were submerged in the floods. As you can see, I'm still cleaning to be able to get a place to sleep tonight. More than 20 cattle belonging to my family have been carried away by the floodwaters; we can't find them," she said.

Nafisa Alhassan, a final year junior high school pupil, lost all her books to the floods. She said the rain fell so heavily that livestock and foodstuffs her parents had bought for the Eid celebration were lost in the floods.

In spite of the floods, some Muslim households defied the odds and still joined their colleagues at the Koforidua Central Mosque to pray.