Sunyani (B/A), Nov. 9, GNA - The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Sunyani is in short supply of relief items, Mr Kwasi Lampo, Sunyani Municipal Coordinator of the organisation said on Monday. He has, therefore, appealed to people living in flood prone areas in the municipality to be cautious and put in contingency measures to guard against any eventuality.

Speaking with the Ghana News Agency on recent heavy rains that hit Sunyani, Mr Lampo explained that even though NADMO was mandated to offer relief items to disaster victims, its main duty was to manage disasters and urged residents to avoid putting up structures in flood prone areas. The rains that came last weekend collapsed a mosque at Nkwabeng North with several vehicles being tumbled.

Mr Lampo warned developers, who had started putting up unauthorised structures and buildings along some river banks in Sunyani and said if such activities were not stopped serious flooding could occur in future. Currently, he said, the Municipal NADMO office had been "flooded" with a lot of disaster cases and appealed to Non Governmental Organisations, philanthropists and public-spirited bodies to assist the office with relief items.

Mr Lampo expressed concern about the poor drainage system in Sunyani and said: "During the weekend's rainfall, gutters got choked with debris and most residents found it difficult to get to their homes". He advised that new buildings located in flood prone areas in Sunyani should be demolished and urged the Municipal Assembly not to be circumspect with the issuance of building permits.

Meanwhile, Mr Noah Kwasi Asare, Brong Ahafo Regional Meteorological Officer has advised farmers, especially maize and cowpea growers not to rush in planting their crops now but said yam farmers could do so for early harvest in June next year.