Communities in Ghana’s capital, Accra, are still recovering from the devastating floods and fire which swept through the city one month ago.
Some 150 people lost their lives during the floods, and the explosion at a petrol station in the Adabraka suburb.
Roslyn Tay, 44, makes pastries near the petrol station. She recalls the rain starting at 17:30 on 3 June and lasting for several hours, leading her compound to flood. She and her employees scrambled onto a wall for safety. And then she noticed some fuel on top of the flood water Fire broke out nearby and fire raced across the water, she says. One of her employees drowned and her house was destroyed. She is still unable to return home The petrol station has not been rebuilt, nor has it been cleared of the taxis which caught fire Taxi driver Aggudey was among those who sought shelter at the petrol station after being stranded. When the fire erupted, he managed to dive into the flood water to protect himself from the flames, but as he came up for air his face was engulfed in flames resulting in severe burns Residential compounds, some home to around 50 people, were destroyed in the fire and have still not been repaired Since the floods, officials have been destroying illegally built homes near stream beds, claiming they contributed towards the floods – along with blocked drains which prevented the flow of water into the ocean
Listen to the BBC Africa Debate at 19:00 GMT on Friday 3 July for a special programme on the aftermath of the Ghana floods and fire disaster.
