A catastrophic rainstorm has left more than 160 residents of Akyem Ayirabi in the Akyemansa District homeless after floodwaters tore through the community yesterday.
The downpour, which lasted several hours, resulted in the total collapse of at least 70 houses, while an additional 104 homes were left submerged.
Local shops were not spared, with business owners reporting the loss of goods and merchandise worth millions of cedis.
The floodwaters decimated personal property and livelihoods alike; residents reported the destruction of furniture, electronics, and personal belongings, while massive stocks of stored maize and rice were ruined. Beyond the collapsed homes, several shops remain underwater.
Speaking to the media, distraught residents pointed to the blocking of local rivers and the construction of shops along waterways as the primary drivers of the disaster.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akyemansa, Linda Ahenkora, visited the site alongside officials from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and physical planning officers to assess the damage.
The DCE was blunt about the cause of the tragedy, attributing the severity of the flooding to human error.
Hon. Linda Ahenkora, DCE, Akyemansa
“People have blocked and built directly on the waterways,” Ahenkora stated.
“The assembly management will soon take the necesspary decision to demolish unauthorized structures to allow the Samanwura River to flow freely.”
Anthony Bismarck Boafo, the Akyemansa District Director of NADMO, assured the public that his team is working with the Assembly to provide immediate relief to those displaced.
Looking toward the future, Boafo confirmed that the authorities plan to dredge the Samanwura River to increase capacity.
Anthony Bismarck Boafo, Akyemansa District Director of NADMO
The Assembly is also considering the demolition of structures obstructing the natural path of the water to prevent a recurrence of this disaster.
Affected residents are currently seeking temporary shelter and have issued an urgent appeal to the government and NGOs for humanitarian aid.
By 1960news.com
