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General News of Friday, 22 March 2002

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Rainstorm Destroys Property in Dormaa Ahenkro

PROPERTY ESTIMATED at ?1.6 bilion was destroyed when a severe rainstorm hit Dormaa Ahenkro and its surrounding areas last weekend.

About 30 houses, including the Dormaa District Assembly guest house, Dormaa National Service transit quarters, poultry farms and a sawmill belonging to one Mr. W. Y. Adjei, had their roofs ripped off, rendering more than 300 people homeless.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Ernest K. Debrah, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Dormaa, Mr. Samuel Darkwa and the Regional NADMO Officer, Nana Ata Afena, visited the victims to console them.

The Chronicle noted that the absence of tree cover and vegetation, poor roof anchorage and use of inferior materials by artisans for construction are the major cause of the rainstorm.

The Hon. Regional Minister encouraged the people to plant and grow trees to serve as wind breaks.

The minister realized during interaction with commercial poultry farmers that they have not insured their property.

He noted that it was quite unfortunate considering the extent of damage to the properties.

He urged them to take insurance cover on their property so that they can be indemnified in case of disaster in future.

The Dormaa District Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr. Stephen Adu, noted that most of the affected areas had no trees to act or serve as windbreaks and recommended that the people should be encouraged to grow more trees to prevent future occurrences.

Adu assured disaster victims of NADMO's assistance to alleviate their present state of hardship.