ACCRA FLOOD; AWAKE UP CALL TO VOLTA REGION

As death tolls rise and people count their losses in a devastating rainstorm that plaque the nation’s capital, my fears have been redirected to a looming danger in the Volta region as human activities make some part of the region flood prone.

The destruction and the relics of the flood captured and highlighted by the media are really horrifying.  Officials from the Ghana National Fire Service have confirmed to Citi News that over 96 bodies have been retrieved from the debris of the GOIL filling station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra which was gutted by fire on Wednesday evening.

Although the real cause of the inferno was yet to be ascertained, the flood that coincided with it needs no rocket scientist to demystify its root.  Undeniably, the problem of flooding in Accra cannot be attributed to the natural course of excessive downpour of rain. Rather the floods are caused by undesirable activities by humans. These include indiscriminate disposal of refuse which leads to choking of drains and gutters, building of houses or structures on water way as well as ineffective town planning. 

President Mahama has described the number of deaths reported in the fire and floods as catastrophic and almost unprecedented, stating that he was at a loss to explain his emotions. He also promised drastic measures to be executed in bringing a lasting solution to the perennial flood.

Yes I do share in his pains and that of any other citizen. But must we always wait for events like this to occur before we start reacting? When would we stop looking at curative measures in tackling challenges rather than preventive measures? Why should we allow fuel filling stations and other structures spring up at inappropriate places when we know the impending dangers such “developments” bring?

My concerns are heightened because our elders do say that if your neighbor’s house is on fire, the best thing to do is to fetch water beside yours. My fear is that if Volta region doesn’t take precautionary measures, similar disaster might plaque the region. Already relatively minor ones occurred in the last quarter of last year.

We have had towns like Adaklu, Kpetoe, Adidome completely submerged in water with some communities cut off from main towns. We saw residents carry midwives shoulder high across flood waters to help deliver babies. Indeed lives and properties were lost and no one would wish for an occurrence of such incidence in the region again.

However human activities paint worse could happen to the region if care is not taken. The Keta lagoon is under threat as chain of gas and petrol filling stations queued along its Tokor-Denu-Afloa stretch.  The wetland has be turned to concrete lands filled with gravels and other materials while fuel stations spring along. On a journey from Ho to Aflao one could count a number of over 25 fuel stations along the road and are mostly concentrated on the Dzodze-Aflao stretch. Not for the timely intervention by residents of a Dzodze, fire from a bale of mattress loaded in a bus en route to Aflao would extended to a nearby  fuel filling station.

Water bodies which control erosions and serve as buffer against flood are being bottled-up as well their ways blocked.  Authorities stand a loath as their desire for cash swallow their zeal to protect the natural resources.

Just recently there were concerns from residents in Ho about siting of a fuel filling station directly opposite Ola Girls Senior High School. The GOIL filling station also sandwiched two popular restaurants in the capital city. In the same vicinity is another Senior high school (Star Senior High School), an Islamic school, a private hospital bounded by a cluster of private residence.  The cries from residents of Anagokordzi about the inappropriate placement of the filling station was not heard as they were later told EPA has granted authorization for its operation.  

As I write this, my eyes are fill up with tears and my heart goes out to the families of the over 200 citizens who lost their lives in this tragedy.

May we not cry for the same reasons tomorrow. Today may be Accra, God forbids it happens in any other part of the country.  Yes Accra obviously lost the battle and needed control of the situation but let us not allow the indiscipline and the indecency escalate in other regions. Things can only change if we change our attitudes as people.  The non-compliance to building regulations and land use must stop.

 This should be a wakeup call to the Volta region and any part of Ghana.

# THIS MUST STOP