Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

A downpour on Thursday destroyed goods on display at a Bazaar, which is a side attraction of the ongoing 5th African-African American Summit, in Accra.

Strong winds, which accompanied the rains damaged stands and goods worth millions of cedis, halting activities at the bazaar grounds. Some exhibitors were injured.

Companies affected included Nsawam Cannery Products, Mama Africa Fashion Gallery and Afro Margansa Enterprise, a food processing company.

Mrs. Mary Kodua, Manager of Mama Africa Fashion Gallery, said clothing worth about 10 million cedis got soaked. Another exhibitor said she had some foods destroyed.

Mr Kwesi Oppong, of the Organising Committee, said they were overwhelmed by the rain and did not know what to do. "We just hope that it does not rain like this again".

Mrs. Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, who was at the scene, described the situation as "very sad and pathetic especially when some of them have not made any sales yet".

The one-week summit ends on Saturday.