The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), West Mamprusi in the North East Region, Aremeyaw Somo Lucky, says the GHS100,000 presented by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in support of flood victims has been disbursed.
Dr. Bawumia offered the money with an assurance that the government will assist in rebuilding the houses for the displaced victims in the area.
Villages were submerged in floodwaters following the massive torrential rains that forced the banks of three dams to break, allowing the water from the dams to rush onto the villages.
Acres of farmlands were submerged while some livestock were carried away by the floodwaters, a situation that led to the donation from Dr. Bawumia to enable the affected victims get some relief items.
The MCE, in a Citi News, interview said he ensured that the amount was distributed to the victims.
“Depending on the number of houses that collapsed. Some communities took GHS20,000 and others took GHS16,000. Some took GHS32,000 depending on the damage caused in a particular community and the assessment done by NADMO. We used the formula provided by them. Apart from one community that I gave the money to them to share, the rest I distributed it to them myself individually so that no one complains that they did not get some of the money. The number of rooms that collapsed are 1,080 rooms. And we divided the GHS100,000 by that number of rooms to determine how much a room gets.”
MCE targeted by robbers while disbursing money to flood victims
Mr. Somo also disclosed that he escaped a robbery attack on Monday, October 12, 2020, while travelling to communities to disburse money to victims of recent flooding in the region.
He said he was able to escape the attack because security personnel came in time to open fire on a group of robbers who attempted to block his convoy.
“Fortunately the police came in. But then at the time, they had already shot a motor rider on the leg. I was with the chiefs distributing the money when they brought him. They quickly rushed him to the hospital. I was alarmed, so I quickly had to go back to Walewale.”
“That particular road is noted for robbery. Because of that, we mounted a number of security checks in the area and that had helped in curbing the attacks. But recently, the police had an accident in the area, and so they had toned down a bit, so I am sure these robbers wanted to take advantage of the situation. But luck evaded them,” he added.