Flood victims in Baatsona Cambodia, Texpo and Klagon Nhyiraba in the Tema West Municipality have received relief items from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Tema West Municipal Assembly, as authorities step up recovery efforts following floods that affected about 3,000 households in the municipality.
Speaking to the media after the distribution exercise at Baatsona Cambodia, the Tema West Municipal Director of NADMO, Mr. Kwaku Tantantu, said the floods caused widespread destruction across the Greater Accra Region, with the Tema West Municipality among the hardest-hit areas. He acknowledged that although the relief items would provide immediate support, they would not be sufficient to meet the needs of every affected victim.
Mr. Tantantu assured residents that additional relief would be be distributed as more support is received from the government and donor organisations. He revealed that corporate organisations, including Equator Foods, Lele Foods and Kasapreko PLC, had supported the exercise by donating mosquito repellents, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, mattresses, biscuits, buckets, bowls, bags of rice, vegetable oil, detergents and other essential household items.
According to him, NADMO’s disaster response policy prioritises vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, children and the elderly, before extending support to other affected residents. He appealed to victims to cooperate with Assembly Members and community leaders supervising the distribution to ensure fairness and transparency.
The Municipal NADMO Director advised residents living near wetlands and other flood-prone areas not to return to their homes until the rainy season ends, warning that the threat of further flooding remains high. He also urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drains, explaining that Tema West receives runoff from the Akuapem Mountains before the water flows into the sea, making efficient drainage systems critical to reducing flooding.
Mr. Tantantu further cautioned the public against entering floodwaters to retrieve personal belongings or collect food items washed away from factories, stressing that such items could be contaminated and pose serious health risks. He revealed that some of the fatalities recorded during the floods occurred when people attempted to recover belongings or collect food items from floodwaters.
Also speaking to the media after the exercise, the Tema West Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ludwig Tey Totimeh, expressed sympathy for residents who lost their properties, describing the relief items as a temporary intervention to cushion affected families as they rebuild their lives.
Hon. Totimeh disclosed that about 3,000 households were affected by the recent floods in the municipality. He also announced that the Tema West Municipal Assembly has commenced desilting major storm drains around the Motorway Roundabout, Lashibi and Klagon areas to improve drainage and reduce the risk of future flooding.
The MCE said the Assembly had received support from Equator Foods, Lele Foods and Kasapreko PLC towards the relief exercise and assured victims that additional relief items would be distributed as more support is received from the government, corporate organisations and other development partners.
Hon. Totimeh urged residents living along waterways and wetlands not to return to those areas until it is safe to do so. He also appealed to the public to report anyone caught dumping refuse into gutters, warning that offenders would face severe sanctions. In addition, he announced a municipality-wide cleanup exercise scheduled for Friday and Saturday and called on residents to participate actively.
The MCE further disclosed that once floodwaters have completely receded and the affected communities have dried up, the Assembly will begin demolishing structures erected on waterways, particularly those within storm drain reservations, to restore the free flow of water and minimise the risk of future flooding.
“The time has come for us to do what is right,” Hon. Totimeh said, stressing that protecting waterways and drainage systems is essential to safeguarding lives and property.
Speaking at the same event, the Assembly Member for the Baatsona Electoral Area, Dawuda, said the relief distribution exercise was organised to support residents of Baatsona Cambodia, Texpo and Klagon Nhyiraba who suffered severe losses during the floods. He explained that officials visited the affected communities shortly after the disaster to assess the extent of the damage and register victims for assistance.
Mr. Dawuda expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama, the Tema West Municipal Assembly, NADMO, Equator Foods, Lele Foods, Kasapreko PLC and other supporting organisations for their timely intervention. He assured residents that the Assembly would continue working with stakeholders to support affected families and help communities recover from the impact of the disaster.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe