Kaase Floods Again After Heavy Downpour
A heavy two-hour downpour on Tuesday night wreaked havoc in Kaase, a suburb of Kumasi in the Asokwa Municipality, as floodwaters swept through homes, shops, and streets, leaving destruction and frustration in their wake.
The torrential rains, which began around 7:30 p.m., caused major flooding that submerged several houses and business centers, disrupting vehicular movement and trapping scores of commuters for hours. Many residents were forced to seek refuge on higher ground as the floodwaters rose swiftly.
When this reporter visited the area on Wednesday morning, several households were seen drying soaked belongings and cleaning up mud from their compounds. Traders at the Kaase Market also counted their losses, with most of their goods destroyed by the floods.
Residents say the disaster has become a recurring nightmare, accusing local authorities of neglect and poor urban planning. They cited choked gutters, indiscriminate disposal of waste, and unauthorized construction on waterways as the main causes of the flooding.
“This is not the first time this is happening. Every year, we go through this same ordeal. The drains are too small and always full of rubbish,” said a frustrated resident, Mr. Kwaku Owusu, whose home was inundated. “We have complained several times but nothing has been done,” he added.
A trader, Madam Hawa Musah, whose shop was affected, recounted how she lost most of her goods to the flood. “The water entered my shop before I could save anything. We are suffering here in Kaase, and yet no one seems to care,” she lamented.
An opinion leader in the community, Rev. Oheneba Acheampong, said Kaase has two major drainage systems that should ordinarily prevent flooding. However, he explained that the drains are often clogged with debris and refuse, preventing the free flow of water whenever it rains heavily.
“When the drains are clear, the water flows easily into the river. But once they get blocked, the whole area floods,” he explained. “We need consistent maintenance and enforcement of building regulations to prevent people from blocking the waterways.”
Meanwhile, officials from the Asokwa Municipal Assembly and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) are expected to visit the community to assess the damage and provide relief to affected residents.
Some residents have called on the government and the city authorities to find a lasting solution to the problem, warning that more severe flooding could occur as the rainy season continues.
“We can’t continue to live in fear anytime it rains,” said another resident. “We need action, not promises.”
