About 400 households, involving more than 4,200 people, have been affected by flooding in parts of the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region, following the overflow of the River Dayi.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Prosper Kumi, who disclosed this, said the flooding was caused by the River Dayi overflowing its banks, affecting several communities and households.
According to him, the number of affected households and individuals could increase as floodwaters move downstream and affect other communities. He described the situation as devastating, saying several residents had lost their homes and properties.
Mr Kumi, however, said no lives had been lost so far, describing that as a major relief amid the disaster. He commended staff of the Municipal Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), security services, the area’s Member of Parliament and the Volta Regional Minister for their support in managing the situation.
He said temporary holding areas had been secured for displaced residents with support from the Ghana Education Service (GES), which provided classrooms to accommodate affected persons. The Ghana Health Service (GHS) had also provided materials, including mosquito nets, while beds had been secured for the victims. Feeding had also been provided for the affected residents.
The MCE appealed for further national support, particularly for residents who had lost their livelihoods. He cited the case of a resident whose entire rice-and-beans business was submerged in the floodwaters, leaving the person with nothing to salvage.
Mr Kumi therefore called on individuals, corporate organisations and other well-meaning Ghanaians to support affected residents with essential items, including clean water, bedding and other relief supplies. He also called for support for small businesses that had suffered losses.
He stressed the need for a central coordinating centre to ensure that relief items and donations reached the right beneficiaries. He disclosed that NADMO at the regional level was expected to arrive with additional relief items.
The MCE further appealed for machinery to dredge sections of the River Dayi and other affected areas to help reduce the risk of future flooding. He said such interventions were necessary to address the problem downstream, similar to flood-control measures being undertaken in other parts of the country.
On the possibility of disease outbreaks, Mr Kumi said the Municipal Assembly was already engaging health officials to prepare for potential public health threats, particularly cholera. He said the health system was being put on alert to respond promptly should any outbreak occur.
Mr Kumi also praised residents and families who had opened their homes to accommodate people displaced by the floods, stressing that community solidarity and collective support were critical in helping the affected communities recover.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
