Data from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) indicates some 1,605 people in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Jirapa District, and the Lawra municipality in the Upper West Region were affected by recent floods in the region.
According to NADMO, the victims lost a total of 722 farmlands.
336 persons were also displaced, according to NADMO.
The report indicates that some 155 houses were destroyed.
“As of Friday, it was difficult for us to give an assessment of the situation. But today [Monday], we have gathered that about 722 farms have been washed away. About 1,605 people had their farmlands washed away, 336 people displaced, 155 houses destroyed. About three districts were affected. Namely the Nadowli-Kaleo district, Jirapa district, and the Lawra municipalities,” the Upper West Regional Coordinator of NADMO, Ahmed Mustapha indicated.
He also indicated that the organisation is partnering with other organisations to extend support to the affected persons.
“We are currently pleading with the religious bodies to lend us their structures to accommodate the victims temporarily as we move to get them relief packages.”
“We are sending them mosquito nets, coils, rice, and other food items. We plan on doing all these on Tuesday.”
An over 12-hour downpour in the Upper West Region on Friday flooded irrigation sites, farmlands, and communities along the Nadowli-Tangasie highway.
The flood washed off major road roads in the area, with many commuters getting stranded due to the situation.
Major bridges on the Wa-Hale road that connect the Nadow-Kaleo district, Jirapa, Lawra, and the Nadom municipalities to Wa the Upper West regional capital were also affected. Portions of the already deplorable Wa-Tumu road were also washed off.
“My district has been cut off from the regional capital and other towns. I just returned from a tour of the affected areas, and it’s not an easy thing. Vehicles cannot cross, people cannot cross, and the whole thing is just terrible. Currently, there is nothing we can do. We just hope that the water recedes and hope that it doesn’t rain heavily again for people to move about,” Chief Executive for the area, Kate Lankono, lamented.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako-Atta has given a one-week period to award construction works on all the bridges that were destroyed during the downpour.
