Residents and chiefs of Poli Zevor, a farming community in the Akyemansa District of the Eastern Region, are appealing to the government and relevant authorities for urgent intervention after River Birim overflowed its banks and flooded all roads leading to the community, leaving residents stranded and disrupting transportation.
The flooding, which has become a major concern for the community, has made movement extremely difficult for residents, commuters, traders, and schoolchildren who depend on the affected roads for their daily activities.
According to residents, the overflowing river has cut off access to the community, forcing many people to rely on canoes for transportation as floodwaters continue to submerge the roads.
Speaking on the situation, the chief of the community, Nana Kpogo III, expressed deep concern over the recurring flooding and its impact on the lives of residents.
He explained that River Birim had burst its banks following persistent rains, causing severe flooding on all access roads to the community and affecting more than 3,000 residents in Poli Zevor and adjoining communities.
Nana Kpogo III, chief, Poli Zevor
“The situation has become very worrying. Residents and commuters are stranded because all the roads leading to the community have been flooded.
Transportation has become extremely difficult, and people are unable to go about their normal activities,” he stated.
Nana Kpogo III further noted than the flooding continues to pose serious safety risks to residents while also affecting access to essential services, including healthcare, education, and trading activities.
He therefore appealed to the government and relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene by dredging River Birim and nearby streams to help prevent future flooding and protect lives and property in the area.
Residents who spoke about the situation expressed frustration over the persistent flooding, saying the problem has existed for years but continues to worsen whenever heavy rains occur.
Some residents lamented that the flooding has disrupted economic activities, especially farming and trading, as many people are unable to transport their goods to nearby markets.
Others also raised concerns about the safety of schoolchildren and pregnant women who are compelled to use canoes to cross flooded areas in order to access schools and health facilities.
They are therefore calling on authorities to take immediate action to restore access to the community and implement long-term measures to address the recurring flooding.
Meanwhile, the Akyemansa District Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Anthony Bismarck Boafo, acknowledged the severity of the situation and described the flooding problem as a long-standing challenge in the area.
“Anthony Bismarck Boafo, Akyemansa NADMO director
According to him, roads leading to the community become flooded anytime it rains heavily, making it impossible for residents and school pupils to cross.
He appealed to the relevant authorities to provide heavy-duty equipment to dredge the smaller streams and River Birim to improve the flow of water and help prevent future flooding.
Mr. Boafo stressed that urgent intervention is necessary to reduce the hardship faced by residents and to protect communities along the river from further destruction.
By 1960news.com
