Flood victims relocated as authorities intensify relief efforts
Mr Charles Agbeve, the Member of Parliament for Agotime-Ziope Constituency, says about 700 people have been displaced by flooding in parts of the constituency.
The authorities, he said, are relocating affected residents to safer grounds while intensifying relief and emergency response efforts.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after touring the affected communities with officials, Mr Agbeve said although the area had experienced flooding about a decade ago, the current situation appeared more severe.
“This is not the first flooding we have experienced. It happened some 10 or 12 years ago, but many residents are saying this one is worse. Some who were never affected before now have water entering their homes, while others say the water level is much higher than during the previous floods,” he said.
He said the immediate priority had been to evacuate residents living in low-lying communities to higher ground, noting that although some people initially resisted leaving their homes, they eventually complied after extensive engagement and public education.
“The first thing we did was to ask those in the flood-prone areas to move to higher ground. Some people, especially those experiencing flooding for the first time, were reluctant, but after explaining the danger to them, they agreed to relocate,” he stated.
Mr Agbeve said the District Chief Executive had informed the Volta Regional Minister, who subsequently led a team comprising the District Health Directorate, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), security agencies and other departmental heads to assess the situation and coordinate emergency interventions.
He said relief items, including food, drinking water and other essential supplies, were being mobilised for distribution to affected households, while health officials had intensified public education to prevent outbreaks of malaria, diarrhoea and cholera following the contamination of some water sources and sanitation facilities.
“We have directed that logistics be procured immediately to support the affected people. Water is being arranged through local producers, mosquito nets will be distributed, and health personnel are on standby to deal with any disease outbreaks,” he said.
The MP disclosed that the Police had deployed officers to patrol evacuated communities to prevent theft and protect abandoned properties, while discussions were ongoing with the military to provide boats to support rescue operations should water levels continue to rise.
Looking ahead, Mr Agbeve called for long-term flood mitigation measures, including comprehensive flood mapping, improved rainfall forecasting, routine desilting of drains, stricter sanitation enforcement and stronger local governance systems to address illegal developments and activities that obstruct the natural flow of water.
GNA