Heavy rains have left a trail of devastation in Frankadua, a community in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.
The downpour, which began late Saturday and lasted into Sunday (June 14-15), caused the Alabo River to overflow its banks, submerging parts of the community.
At least 16 houses have been flooded, farmlands washed away, and properties destroyed, forcing several families to seek refuge with neighbours or in temporary shelters.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Simon Babah, Assembly Member for the Frankadua Electoral Area, described the situation as dire.
“This is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years,” he said.
“Entire homes are underwater. People have lost not just shelter, but also their means of livelihood.”
Residents are calling for urgent support from both local assembly authorities and disaster response agencies to mitigate the aftermath and prevent future occurrences.
“The Alabo River broke its boundaries and flooded our homes, destroying properties and displacing some residents,” Mr. Babah said.
Mr. Babah expressed concern over the condition of several submerged buildings, saying,
“Some structures are on the brink of collapse,” and therefore urged the authorities to prioritize dredging of the Alabo River regularly to avert future flooding.”
He noted that the last time such a flood happened was 40 years ago. “I believe if the river is dredged regularly, this kind of disaster can be avoided,” he added.
Following the incident, Mr. Godwin Bobobee, the District Chief Executive for Asuogyaman, visited the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage.
He expressed deep concern over the impact of the flood and immediately contacted the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Mr. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, to inform him about the situation.
In a swift response to the disaster, Mr. Teddy Safori Addi, Director General of Operations at the National Disaster Management Organisation, has mobilized emergency relief supplies, including buckets, mattresses, blankets, and toiletries for families affected by the floods.
He announced that temporary shelter was being arranged at the Baptist Primary School to accommodate the displaced.
The MP for Asuogyaman, who is also Deputy Minister of Finance, on her part, donated GHC32,000 to support recovery efforts. Each of the 16 affected households is expected to receive GHC2,000 from the fund.
Authorities have assured residents that further assessments would be conducted to determine additional support needed.
The visit by the officials brought a sense of hope and comfort to the affected families, reaffirming that they are not alone in this difficult time.