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15.10.2008 Regional News

Fear grips landslide community

15.10.2008 LISTEN
By The Statesman


Fear has griped the people of Adukrom-Yensi where three persons died in a landslide on Monday, October 6, 2008 following which several inhabitants deserted the village.

A fetish priest has allegedly told the people that three more people including a virgin would die if they continued to stay there explaining that the village is a passage way for river gods.

The priest is alleged to have also indicated that the gods would continue to harass and force them out of the place. What had deepened their fears and thus making them have nightmares is that one Kwadwo Henaku died mysteriously a few days after he took part in some rituals including the slaughter of a sheep to pacify the gods after the priest made the statement. Those who died in the landslide were Doris Asantewaa 55, Yaa Oforiwaa, 72 and Kwasi Mante, 3 years.

This was made known when the Eastern Regional Minister, Kwadwo Affram Asiedu led a delegation to meet the bereaved family and on behalf of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) presented relief items worth GH¢2,250 to those affected in the landslide.

The Minister told the spokesman of the bereaved family who briefed him on the men's death that, "you will not die". The items included 15 bags of rice, 40 student mattresses, 20 rubber bowls, 20 rubber cups, 25 rubber buckets, 50 rubber plates, 50 mats and three bales of second hand clothing.

The minister was accompanied by Dan Botwe, NPP Parliamentary candidate for Okere constituency, the incumbent MP B.D.K. Adu, the Akuapem North District Chief Executive Edward Aboagye, the Regional NADMO Coordinator, Seth Ahyia and Akuapem North NADMO Coordinator Seth Otchere.

Briefing newsmen after the presentation, Mr Aboagye indicated that the people of Adukrom-Yensi have agreed on advise of the Akuapem North District Assembly to relocate to avoid future occurrence as the place was close to the mountain. He said their decision was good news to the Assembly because it was embarking on an exercise to identify all villages in the disaster prone zones and advise them to relocate.

He announced that the Assembly has assisted the bereaved family at AdukromYensi to obtain coroner's inquest for the burial of their three relatives.

The DCE thanked officials of NADMO, Fire Service, Ghana Highway Authority, Chiefs, Volunteers and all those who contributed in diverse ways to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, the road leading to Adukrum-Yensi is being rehabilitated by the Department of Feeder Roads with support from the Akuapem North District Assembly. Mr Affram Asiedu also presented some of the relief items to people whose houses were destroyed at Asenema in the rain which lasted more than three hours on October 6, 2008.

The team also inspected another land slide which blocked the Beposo-Asena road with stones and a stream which has over flown its banks thereby cutting Kuritiase from the surrounding village.

In another development, a primary school block and three unit teachers' quarters started by the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu at Kuritiase are nearing completion. According to Mr. Aboagye, Mr Baah-Wiredu in 2003 adopted the village and promised to provide the school and the teachers' quarters.

Even through the doors and windows of the school are yet to be fixed it is being used, while the teachers' quarters has reached the lintel level.

Mr Aboagye indicated that the two facilities might be named after the late BaahWiredu on completion.

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