The city of Accra experienced another major downpour yesterday and as usual the flood-prone areas like Alajo, Adabraka, Sahara and Avenor were the worst affected. The rain, which showed signs of coming on the night of Tuesday, finally came on Wednesday morning. It started off haltingly at first and city residents expected the skies to clear by 8.00 am for them to leave for work, but before long, the clouds had turned into major rain bearing clouds.

The downpour, which followed, brought to mind the deluge of five years ago. Yesterday's floods are a foretaste of worse things to come if the meteorological forecasts are accurate. Heavy rains have been forecast throughout the country.

According to reports, when the President was briefed in far away USA, he was visibly disturbed and has since remained in contact with the authorities in Accra.

When The Accra Mail called the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, his mood was that of someone who had just been informed of the loss of a loved one. The suburb of Alajo, where his family house is situated was one of the worst hit areas. He told The Accra Mail that "Word reached us in Parliament that Accra was under flood and so we had to adjourn the sitting to tackle this major problem."

Top government officials among whom were Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Chief of Staff, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Kwamina Bartels and the Regional Minister went round the flooded areas to see things for themselves.

Mr. Kwamina Bartels had at the beginning of the rainy season ordered stoppage of work on the Korle project to prevent flooding with the onset of the rains. Even that could not keep the waters from rising with devastating consequences in many parts of the city.

At Tesano, the Mukose valley was inundated, but even then, volunteers were seen helping daring motorists to wade through the water which had taken over the road.

At Alajo the story was no different. Movement of vehicles and pedestrians had come to a complete standstill as the floods had besieged the whole area. The Odaw River which passes through the area on its long journey from the Aburi mountains to the sea, had burst its banks there and flood waters extended for as far as the eyes could see. The volume of water was just too much for the drainage there. Household valuables and furniture from shops could be seen floating everywhere on the water. Kiosks, cars at fitting shops and houses were all taken up by the flood waters.

Agbogbloshie, another flood prone area, with its forest of wooden shacks was all but washed off. Peace Seekers International, a human rights organisation known for its campaign for the victims of June 4 and December 31 eras, mobilised their members, most of whom are ex-soldiers, to render humanitarian support to the needy there.

A contractor, Alhaji Mahadi who spoke to The Accra Mail from his East Legon residence said an expensive wall he had just constructed had collapsed. The Secaps Hotel area where he lived had become inaccessible and vehicles had to turn back or wait out the storm. The Secaps bridge was eventually washed away, as well as another bridge on the Spintex road.

At Accra's most famous landmark, the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, traffic was brought to a standstill as the floods from the Odaw river close by had spread out to cover the entire place.

At the time of going to press, many city residents were counting their losses, which are estimated to run into the billions of cedis and wondering whether the five more weeks of rainfall left of the major rainy season would be any milder.

Telecommunications had broken down in many parts of the city.