25-08-2011
More communities in the Upper East Region have been hit by floods due to continuous rainfall being experienced in the region. An estimated 3,047 people have so far been displaced, with 312 households had been affected. Properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedis have been destroyed by the floods as large tracks of farm lands with crops such as maize, groundnut and millet have also been submerged. The situation has prevented farmers’ from harvesting their crops. The worst affected communities include Sawaba, Pobaga, Dacheo and Tidonmolgo. Others affected communities are Zongo, Gambibgo, Tidonsobligo and Sumbrungu among other several affected communities. Parts of the Bolgatanga municipality have also been cut off as a result of the devastating nature of the flood. When Radio Ghana visited some of affected areas, people were cited sitting on top of their buildings as motor bikes and bicycles were seen carried away by the floods. People were trapped in their homes because there were no boats or canoes to rescue them. As a form of intervention, officials from the Regional NADMO office including the Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo have toured some of the affected areas to sympathize with the families involved. They have pledged to assist affected victims with immediate relief items. According to the Regional NADMO Coordinator, Patrick Akake, relief items in the form of blankets and mattresses would soon be made available for the displaced persons and urged victims to exercise patients whilst his office takes steps in ensuring that those consignments arrives safely as expected. He assured the people of NADMO’s continuous support and appealed to residents living in low lying areas to relocate to safer grounds since more rains are being predicted. Mr. Akake debunked media reports that the region has recorded one death as a result of the torrential rainfall. He said unlike the flooding in the Eastern and Volta Regions of Ghana, which recorded about five deaths, no death has been recorded in the recent flooding in the region. He further stressed that the recent flooding experienced in the region is not in any way related to perceived spillage of the Bagre dam in neigbouring Burkina Faso. To him, NADMO is on top of issues and would do anything humanly possible to attend to all flood affected victims in the region. Some of the displaced persons are now temporarily living with friends and relatives, while the majority has sought refuge in churches and school buildings.
GBC END IA/
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