Kufuor wipes tears of Tamale victims

President John Agyekum Kufuor is in Tamale to access extent of damage to property in the Tamale Metropolis caused by a rainstorm that hit the area a week ago.

The President addressed the Northern Regional Security Council on Sunday, paid courtesy calls on some traditional chiefs in Tamale Metropolis and he would address the disaster victims at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) hall in Tamale.

Briefing the media, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister said President Kufuor shared in the misery, trauma and the plight of the disaster victims and had therefore decided to personally visit them.

The disaster, which was caused by a severe rainstorm on Saturday April 21, 2007, affected 500 private homes, 46 government bungalows, 25 school buildings and displaced more than 3,500 people.

Electricity supply to the Tamale Teaching Hospital was also affected by the storm.

A high-powered government delegation led by Mr. Kan Dapaah, Interior Minister had already visited the place and presented relief items worth one billion cedis as an interim assistance to the victims.

An initial estimate of the destruction by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) put the figure at about ¢33 billion.

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama also led a three-member government delegation to inspect the disaster areas where he assured the people that government would come in strongly to support them.

Source: GNA