Over 800 homes, farms destroyed in Upper West floods

Three-hundred and thirty-six (336) persons have been rendered homeless following the destruction of 155 houses in last Friday’s heavy rainfall, which affected the Upper West Region.

In addition, 1,605 smallholder farmers in Nadowli-Kaleo, Jirapa and Lawra have lost their farmlands.

The floods also rendered major roads connecting communities unmotorable.

The situation has also affected transportation, leading to hikes in fares and food prices.

The Upper West Regional National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Coordinator, Mustapha Ahmed, provided details of the situation following an assessment by NADMO on Monday, August 16.

He has subsequently called on benevolent individuals and institutions to assist in complementing the efforts of NADMO.

“We are pleading with the religious bodies to assist us with their structures as a temporary measure for these displaced people to at least have a good shelter as we move in to give them some relief packages.”

NADMO to distribute relief items to victims 

The regional NADMO coordinator disclosed that they have already received some relief items to be given to the affected persons, beginning August 17.

“The assessment we did indicate to us that they (the victims of the flood) need food items. Therefore, we are sending them rice, oil and other food items. We are also sending them buckets to aid in bathing and other chores. The season is also not favourable with regard to mosquitos, so we are likely to send them mosquito coils and nets as well,” he said.

Mr Ahmed assured that the relief items received would be able to cater to the affected persons, as they have received some packages from the central warehouse in Accra to respond to emergencies even before resorting to the regional headquarters.

Roads minister tours affected communities 

Meanwhile, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako-Atta, has assured that contracts would be awarded within a week to construct bridges affected by the rains.

The minister described the situation in the region as a national disaster and promised that the government would mobilise resources to get the roads fixed immediately to ease problems related to transportation.

“We have had an aerial view of the situation, even though it has never been underestimated. We are overwhelmed by what we have seen so far. We are, however, confident that the situation is not beyond solution,” the minister said.

According to him, a lead contractor has been selected to move to the affected sites after arrangements are concluded.

He added that his ministry is helping NADMO and all other relevant authorities to get relief items for persons whose farms were affected.

“The government is approaching this issue with all seriousness, and by a week, we will ensure that the reconstruction is started,” he emphasised.

 

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