Tidal Waves Inundate Coastal Communities

More than 1,500 persons have been rendered homeless following the rise in the tidal waves that devastated four communities along the coastal part of the Volta Region.

The cost of damage to property, in the estimation of the Volta Regional office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), is in excess of GH¢80,000, but so far there has been no life lost.

Three of the four communities are in the Ketu South District. They are Blekusu, Adina and Agavedzi while Horvi is in the Keta Municipality.

The affected persons are currently putting up in makeshift tents and classrooms in various areas.

At Horvi, 43 households totalling about 1,300 individuals were confirmed displaced while 12 households of 98 persons were affected at Blekusu.

Twenty-two households with a total population of 65 were affected at Adina while 72 individuals were affected at Agavedzi.

An assessment by the Volta Regional Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said that temporary shelter was required for the displaced population, adding that utilities like water and electricity were not available.

The Volta Regional Co-ordinator of the NADMO, Mr Henry Ametefee, said in a quick response that his outfit had made available to the affected persons, 200 mattresses, 100 blankets, 20 bales of used clothing and 95 bags of 50 kilogramme maize.

He said the regional office of the NADMO was requesting for more relief items for the affected people, especially the internally displaced ones.

He also called on district and municipal assemblies in the region to be assertive and proactive when such disasters occurred rather than waiting for a subvented organisation like the NADMO to rush to their aid.

Even in situations where the NADMO had provided relief items, he observed that it was difficult for the assemblies to provide vehicles to convey the items to the affected persons.

Political appointees in the region had been sleeping for far too long, and that they needed proper education to function effectively, he stressed.