Frankadua storm victims cry for help

A number of residents of Frankadua in the Asuogyaman District who were recently hit by a severe rainstorm, have appealed to both the government and non-governmental organisations to come to their aid to save the over 275 displaced persons in the town.

Property worth over 200 million cedis were destroyed in the storm and some buildings damaged included the local Evangelical Presbyterian Primary School block, the Baptist Primary School block, the Catholic primary school, the chief's palace and the Frankadua market.

Togbe Kofi Akrobotu, the second, Chief of Frankadua made this passionate appeal when the Member of Parliament for the area Mr. Dwamena Bekoe visited the town to assess the extent of damage.

Eighty-one houses were partly damaged rendering 275 people homeless. There were no casualties although some residents said it was the severest rainstorm ever to hit the town.

According to the chief, pupils of the affected school were now learning under trees and some in the chapels.

He said even though there were no casualties, damage caused to the town by the devastating rainstorm could only be remedied through external intervention.

Togbe Akrobotu said the displaced persons would need some temporary homes and some basic social and economic interventions to keep them going since most of them had lost their homes and sources of livelihood.

The MP, Mr. Bekoe, who was accompanied by the Asuogyaman District NADMO Officer Mr. Saviour Wanya, described the damage caused by the storm as very devastating, adding that conditions of the victims would be further worsened if external interventions failed to come early.

He said any delay in assisting the people would also affect the social and economic development of the town since the dependency rate would be higher than anticipated.

Mr. Bekoe gave the assurance that every necessary contacts with the government and NGOs would be explored to source for the necessary support for the victims.

In another development twenty-six persons living at Kofikorpe in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region have been rendered homeless following a bush fire, which swept through the town at the weekend.

Property, including farm implements and fishing gears worth 48 million cedis were destroyed.

Disclosing this to the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Mr. Dwamena Bekoe, the Assembly member for Gyakiti Electoral Area, Mr. Love Joy Dusi said the incident occurred when most members of the community had gone for a funeral.

Mr. Dusi said some of the displaced persons were temporarily living with relatives at the adjoining towns whiles others were living in makeshift thatched houses.

Mr. Bekoe expressed his sympathy with the victims and assured them of his desire to seek support to resettle them.

He cautioned the communities in the area especially fishermen and farmers to be careful about the use of fire during the dry season.