Flood victims assess impact on property - Ghana Water insists assemblies must do more

Life is yet to return to normalcy in parts of the Weija-Gbawe and Ga South municipalities, a day after the spillage flooded homes and property, although many of the affected residents have returned to assess the impact of the floods on their facilities. 

Those with vehicles parked their cars at a distance and walked through the receding floods.

Some of them told the Daily Graphic that they slept in their cars, others maintained they put up with neighbours and friends, with many others endangering their lives by staying at home to prevent any thievery.

Another group of persons said they had put up in hotels and guest houses.

This came to light when the Daily Graphic visited the areas to observe the situation.

Areas visited included Oblogo, Tetegu, Sampah Valley and the White Cross areas, which were heavily affected by the spillage.

GWL

The Public Relations and Communications Director of GWL, Stanley Martey, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the floods were receding because local assemblies had intensified dredging activities.

He explained that the spillage was not responsible for the floods per se, but rather the impediments on the watercourses, which reduced the pressure required to force its way into the sea.

He said the company had been spilling water from the dam since last year without any incidents.

Mr Martey said the water company had always informed the local assemblies and also conducted extensive education, including house-to-house engagements, to sensitise residents.

He expressed concern that although a large portion of the flooded areas were buffer zones and waterlogged areas, the assemblies looked on for developments to increase every year, deepening the flooding risk.

Observation

The Daily Graphic team observed that schools, public and other private institutions were still closed, and a couple of them could be seen in floodwaters.

At Tetegu, for instance,  some small business owners along the main road leading to the town had reopened their shops after the water receded.

Food vendors have also returned, doing brisk business.

The main road is also in a deplorable state with gullies and potholes, impeding the smooth movement of vehicles and motorbikes.

At the Sampah Valley, some residents were seen walking through the shallow waters to and from their homes to pick up an item or another.  

Spillage

The Ghana Water Ltd (GWL) spilled excess water from the Weija Dam in order to save the facility from collapse.

The spillages intensified from Wednesday because the Weija reservoir had collected water up to its limit of 48 feet, and had to open its sluice gates to spill excess water.

Usually, the company starts the exercise when the water gets to 45 feet, but it had to wait a while for the rains to subside.

Following the spillage, many homes downstream of the dam and property got submerged, thereby displacing residents. 

Residents

Kingsley, a resident at Sampah Valley,  said he slept on the top floor of the storey building he lived in.

He said it was his second time experiencing the flooding, adding that he had yet to do a full assessment of the impact of the flood.

Ama, who was returning to her house, said she had to spend the night in a guest house at her own cost.

Another resident, Nii Lante, said: "My brother slept in the house while I slept in my taxi here."

At Tetegu, the caretaker of the St Peter Catholic Church, Anthony Tseh, confirmed that some stranded people in the community slept in the facility.

"The people came and slept here but woke up early in the morning to find something for themselves and their families," he said.

A policeman and resident of the area, Fredo, underscored the need for a permanent solution to be found to the flooding.

He said he could not go to work because he had to help with rescue efforts and observe the situation in his house.

Monitoring

For his part, the Ga South Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Isaac Nelson Akrobotu, said although the situation was calm, “we are still going round to ensure that everything is okay”.