June 18– Days of consecutive torrential rainfall have left many residents homeless and devastated in parts of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
The heavy rains, which began at midnight on Saturday, June 15, flooded roads, homes, and entire neighborhoods, submerging many buildings in the deluge.
At Ntankorful in the Essikado-Ketan constituency, access roads to several communities were completely inundated, rendering them impassable.
When the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) was called by affected residents at midnight on June 15, the Ghana National Fire Service was unable to navigate the floodwaters. The fire tender was forced to retreat without assessing the situation or providing aid to the affected homes.
NADMO officers returned to the area the following day, once the waters had subsided, to evaluate the situation and determine the extent of the damage.
In response to the flooding, NADMO ordered the owner of a building adjacent to the Saviour Church of Ghana to demolish part of his fence wall near the gutter. This measure aims to facilitate expansion works on the drains to accommodate the volume of water flowing through the area.
The flooding also caused a power outage that lasted three days, leaving residents in darkness. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cited safety concerns and infrastructure damage. Additionally, water supply was disrupted after pipes laid by the Ghana Water Company were damaged.
Speaking to Nzema Today TV , a resident, Mrs. Comfort Yankey, called for immediate relief support from NADMO and the Member of Parliament for the area, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah. She also urged the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) to expand the drainage system along the main road and to asphalt the entire stretch to prevent future flooding.
By Kodwo Nyamekeh
