President John Evans Atta Mills Wednesday visited flooded areas in the Volta Region, assuring the people that the government would make efforts at assuaging their suffering.

As an initial demonstration of the commitment of the government to the plight of the flood victims, the President presented 150 bags of rice, 100 bags of beans, 100 bags of maize, bed sheets and drinking cups to the people.

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is still assessing the impact of the floods.

President Mills said the government would also continue to pursue measures to reduce the recurrence of similar disasters to the barest minimum in future.

He visited flood affected communities in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District and the Keta municipality.

He was accompanied by government officials, including the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu; the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode; Ambassador Dan Abodakpi; the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr Kobby Acheampong, and the National Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy.

“I wish I could come here under the happiest circumstances, but I am sad,” he said, but expressed delight at the spirit of hard work and sacrifice of the people in the areas affected by the recent floods.

Several days of rainfall in the Volta Region caused flooding in parts of the Akatsi, Adaklu-Anyigbe and South Tongu districts which share boundaries but have currently been cut off from one another, making it impossible for schoolchildren in the area to attend school.

But the Keta municipality appears to have suffered most, with the Shime area, comprising communities such as Agortoe, Tregui, Blamezado and Adutor, inundated by floods which have destroyed many farms in the area.

One person is said to have died in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District when she was swept away by the floods on her return home.

Responding to requests by the chiefs and people in the affected areas, President Mills said he would do the best under the circumstances to provide the needs of the communities.

He said he was confident that his mandate would be renewed in 2012 to continue with the development programmes which the government had initiated so far.