13 COMMUNITIES TRAPPED BY FLOOD

Picture & Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Nzema Akropong

Hundreds of people have been trapped in two communities in the Ellembele District of the Western Region due to the rising level of flood waters as a result of continuous rains which started last Sunday.
Roads to the communities especially Nzema-Akropong are cut off, and more than 120 housing units have collapsed in 13 other communities and properties, farm produce, livestock worth thousands of Ghana Cedi has been lost.
At Nzema Akropong and Adubrim, the towns have completely submerged as the level of the water soared to the roof and the people have relocated to school blocks on higher grounds while academic work had been put on hold.
Other affected areas include Essiama, Nkroful, Teleku Bokazo, Anwiah, Asaasetre, Aiyinase-Nyamekyere, Bakantu, Sanzuley Kamgbinli, Awiebo, Nvuma and Salman.
The Ghana Air Force had succeeded in air-lifting food and other relieves items to the people of Akropong, while the Ghana Navy and the Field Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Army, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and Police are on the ground.
According to NADMO, about four trucks load of relieve items have been dispatched to the affected communities and would be evenly distributed to the affected people.
The roads to the affected areas which are mainly feeder roads had been taken over by high current flood waters; therefore, vehicular moments are currently restricted.
At the moment, the people in these areas are struggling with reptiles and other domestic animals and games for survival.
The right of entry to Akropong, Adubrim, and other communities which are in the middle of the forest surrounded by the flood could only be done by air.
Even though the weather was still bad, the Air Force, Captain Appiah Adjei and his co-pilot managed to airlifted the Daily Graphic news team round the areas to have a first hand information.
There is still heavy flow of flood water from the hilly parts of the affected areas which gives the indication that inhabitants should move to safer ground.
The danger at the moment is that, many houses still risk collapsing as the foundations of the rest have been rendered weak.
The threatening part of the situation is that, streams and rivers within these areas are also overflowing into the communities.
At the moment, the many of the villages such as Asaretre and Akropong cannot be reached with assistance even though the water have partially gone down.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the District Chief Executive Mr Daniel K. Eshun said the people in these areas seriously needed nothing more than attention.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah said they would do everything possible to ensure that the people are safe.
He said at the moment, officers from the Field Engineering Regiment, Ghana Navy, NADMO and Ghana Police service are collaborating to ensure that people are safe.
The MP, who is also the Deputy Minister of Energy called on the people to remain calm and stay on the higher grounds until help get to them.