The Member of Parliament for New Juaben North Nana Adjei Boateng, the Municipal Chief Executive Comfort Asante and the Regional Highway Director, Patrick Okoto accompanied by officials of the National Disaster Management Organization(NADMO) have visited areas affected by the devastating floods in the Municipality
Hundreds of residents in New Juaben North Municipality in Eastern Regional capital Koforidua are salvaging their properties aftermath of the devastating flood which cut off the city by flooding major roads, submerged homes, and collapsed houses.
Akwadum is the worst affected community.
The Densu river overflown its banks to submerge homes, collapsed buildings, flooded shops and sawmills in the community.
At Least 15 houses have collapsed in the community.
The Densu river is however receding very slowly.
The Member of Parliament for New Juaben North also a former Deputy Minister for local government, Nana Adjei Boateng was disturbed after visiting the affected areas and victims.
The MP called for collective effort to deal with situations such as illegal mining and encroachment of waterways worsening flood vulnerability. He urged the assembly to demolish illegal buildings on waterways and wetlands in the municipality.
“We need to pick the bull by the horns otherwise every time it rains, in fact, the last time we had this experience it has been quite some times now and is because the assembly did the dredging but the channel is chalked up even now but the volume of water that is coming all the way from the flanks of the ridge and then it flows, is the same problem that we have in Betom is all over so that is one of the things that we should also be looking at maybe together with you and the assembly we will work on it and speak with the appropriate people and see what we can do about the drainage situation here, that is how we can find a long-lasting solution to the problem we have”
The MCE for New Juaben North, Comfort Asante agrees stating that some building owners are already in court fighting the assembly for demolishing their structures.
“Tomorrow go to the court and see the number of people because we demolished their structures and they’ve taken the assembly to court, we are working except that we always have to team up and make sure that the right things are put in place because the assembly will never give any permit to somebody to build at flood-prone areas but before you are aware they are there so we come in and our men are always out making sure that people do the right thing and are not an easy job so that’s why we are happy everybody should be onboard”
The MCE said the number of people displaced has increased.
“as at three days ago the number we have had doubled that is why we are going there to make sure the figure reduces during our next MUSEC meeting, but yesterday we met as MUSEC and we’ve put measure in place, they are our people we need to service them to at least feel a bit comfortable.”
The Member of Parliament for Suhum, Oboafo Kwadwo Asante, who also visited portions of the affected communities under his constituency is saddened by the development.
He said most of the victims are being sheltered in churches and schools and hence will need relief support.
The Eastern Regional Director of Ghana Highway Authority Ing. Patrick Okoto suggested the Construction of a massive underground drain at the Abrewankwanta roundabout to mitigate the flooding situation after a downpour.
The three days of torrential rainfall recorded across the region has led to an overflow of major river bodies causing devastating floods in many communities.
About 2000 residents in Nsawam Adoagyiri municipality for instance have been displaced.
Commuters on Otorkpolu to Odumase highway have been using canoes to cross due to the overflow of a river.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
