Volta Region's Disaster Management Committee meets over floods

Ho, Nov 4, GNA - The Volta Region Disaster Management Committee, has met under the chairmanship of the Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode on Wednesday to review the floods situation in the region and to revise its strategies to curb the situation.

It was attended by District Chief Executives and District Co-ordinators of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). Mr Henry Ametefe, Regional NADMO Co-ordinator, who is Secretary to the Committee, presented an updated list of the communities affected by the floods.

According to the data, which a source at the NADMO Office said keeps changing, as the water bodies surge, a total of 33,897 people have been affected, 1,707 houses destroyed as well as 6,752.5 acres of farms.

The data covered 12 districts with Krachi East District, where 104 communities have been affected, being the worst hit. Unparalleled swelling of the Volta Lake, said to be the worst in 20 years had also inundated communities along its middle course in the region.

Heavy rains have also swamped low lying areas, filled rivers, streams and brooks.

NADMO officials expressed concern about the dormancy of the District Disaster Management Committees, refusal of lake side communities to heed the counselling of the organisation and the unsatisfactory performance of building regulatory bodies.

The officials were unanimous about the need for public education to stem the mishaps that associates the spillage of excess water from the Akosombo dam to the Volta Lake.

NADMO has asked district assemblies affected by the disaster to design integrated policies, which should include relocation of communities and provide lifeline economic support for those affected.

The organisation also appealed to chiefs to offer lands to facilitate the resettlement of those displaced.