Western Region Minister tours flooded areas

The Jomoro District Assembly, spent 27.6 million cedis, digging trenches in parts of Half Assini township to allow the easy flow of stagnant water, after torrential rains early this month. The affected areas included, the Presbyterian Church and mission house, Cambodia and parts of Half Assini Senior Secondary School.

Mr. Ketiboa Blay, District Chief Executive announced this when Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, accompanied by Mr. Padmore K. Nyekopa-Arthur, Regional NADMO Director and Mr. Gustav Dzokoto, Regional Hydro Engineer, visited the affected areas.

According to him the absence of drains in the township, was a major cause of flooding. So far, 100 houses have either collapsed due to the effects of the floods or were standing in large pools of water. Mr. Blay said it was unrealistic to re-locate the victims due to the cost involved and pledged to find a permanent solution to the problem.

Mr. Aidoo, said the district would need about six billion cedis, for the construction of drains to reduce flooding. He advised people still living in their flooded homes to dig trenches to enable the water to flow. He called on the district assembly and health administration to monitor the health of the victims to reduce the outbreak of cholera, malaria and dysentery.

At Wassa Manso in the Mpohor Wassa East District, the bridge over River Whin, had been secured temporarily by the NADMO, Ghana Railway Company (GRC), Ghana Bauxite Company and Ghana Manganese Company, tofacilitate rail transport and to maintain links to Takoradi and Tarkwa.

Mr. Nyekopa-Arthur said the victims of 500 houses, which collapsed are temporarily being accommodated in tents provided by NADMO. He said they had been supplied with blankets, mattresses, hurricane lamps, cooking oil, and rice. Mr. Nyekopa-Arthur urged the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Army, to re-construct a bailey bridge over the River to restore rail transport permanently.

Nana Katakyere II, Chief of Wassa Manso at a durbar, said all low lying lands in the area, would not be habited to save lives and property. He appealed to the District Assembly to provide roofing sheets, cement and other building materials for the affected persons.

Mr. Gustav Dzokoto, advised communities not to build in buffer zones and near streams, adding that, all water ways should be dredged periodically, to reduce the impact of flooding. He urged district assemblies, to construct proper drainage systems to reduce disaster.