Traders at Alajo and Avenor in Accra are counting heavy losses after torrential rains triggered severe flooding that swept through shops, destroyed merchandise and disrupted business activities in the two busy commercial communities.
At Alajo, traders are still grappling with the aftermath of floodwaters that overflowed drains and inundated shops following hours of intense rainfall.
Many said they had little or no time to move their goods to safety as water levels rose rapidly, submerging stalls and damaging merchandise.
Scenes from the area showed traders knee-deep in muddy water cleaning their shops, while others struggled to salvage soaked goods in an effort to recover part of their investments.
One trader was seen cleaning mud off packets of biscuits and bottled drinks in the hope of saving some of his stock after the floodwaters receded.
Several vehicle owners were also affected, with cars submerged and filled with mud as residents spent the morning clearing debris and assessing the damage.
Speaking to JoyNews, a resident described the flooding as devastating, saying homes, shops, vehicles and, in some cases, livestock were submerged during the downpour.
He noted that the disaster has left many traders uncertain about how they will recover their businesses, particularly amid difficult economic conditions.
However, another trader acknowledged that poor sanitation practices within the community have contributed to the recurring floods.
“We traders too have used the gutter as a refuse dump. Let’s stop; it’s not helping,” he said.
At Avenor, traders also recounted significant losses after floodwaters entered their shops and destroyed merchandise intended for weekend sales.
One trader said she lost goods worth approximately GH¢380,000, explaining that the floodwaters rose so quickly she was unable to move her stock to safety.
She described the incident as heartbreaking, saying her investment was wiped out within minutes.
Across both communities, affected traders say they are still assessing the full extent of their losses, which they estimate run into hundreds of thousands of cedis.
They are appealing to authorities to urgently address the persistent flooding, stressing that improved drainage infrastructure and regular desilting of gutters are essential to preventing future disasters and restoring normal commercial activities.
