Floods affect 70 PWDs in Keta Municipality 

Seventy persons with disabilities (PWDs) across nine communities in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region have been affected by the ongoing flooding, prompting an appeal for urgent humanitarian support.

The affected communities include Hatorgodo, which recorded the highest number of cases with 20 affected persons, followed by Keta Central with 15. The figure for Keta Central increased from an initial nine after six additional cases were reported on the evening of July 4.

Other affected communities are Abutiakope/Kedzikope (eight), Adzido/Vodza (seven), Anyako (six), Mamime (six), Anlo Afiadenyigba (five), Atiavi Glime (two), and Abor (one).

Mr. Godwin Etsey Adzipome, Municipal Chairman for Persons with Disabilities, told the Ghana News Agency that the floods have severely disrupted the lives of many PWDs, with mobility challenges making it difficult for them to assess damage to their homes and farms.

“Some of the affected persons are unable to leave their homes, as rising floodwaters have made movement extremely difficult and, in some cases, dangerous,” he said.

Mr. Adzipome noted that several affected persons had also lost household items and other personal belongings to the floods, worsening the hardships they already face.

He appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies, and philanthropic individuals to provide immediate assistance, stressing that the needs of persons with disabilities are often overlooked during emergencies despite their heightened vulnerability.

He said the affected PWDs urgently require food, clothing, temporary shelter, and other essential relief items to help them cope with the situation.

The Chairman disclosed that the Department of Social Welfare is currently undertaking a registration exercise across the municipality to update its database of persons with disabilities. According to him, the exercise will help identify all affected PWDs, including those not previously captured in official records, to ensure they benefit from relief interventions.

He commended social welfare personnel for conducting the exercise despite the difficult conditions and urged residents to cooperate fully to ensure no eligible person is left out.

Mr. Adzipome assured that the association would continue engaging relevant stakeholders and authorities to mobilise support and advocate for timely intervention to address the urgent needs of affected persons with disabilities in the municipality.

GNA