About 3,000 people from Lolonya, Agblabanya, Anyamam, Azizanya, Kpoji and Otlorkpe both in the Ada East and West Districts have been rendered home
About 3,000 people from Lolonya, Agblabanya, Anyamam, Azizanya, Kpoji and Otlorkpe both in the Ada East and West Districts have been rendered homeless by the tidal waves which hit the communities.
It also destroyed more than 400 homes in the two districts Mr. Jerry Narh, Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for Ada West has revealed.
“What we have gathered so far indicates that we are having 300 to 350 houses affected so far in Ada West. Then those who are displaced, most importantly, they are about 3,000 plus, and that is quite a huge number. So the devastation for us is quite serious and we are giving it all the serious attention that is needed,” he said.
Mr. Narh noted that NADMO team was assessing the damage to the homes to ascertain which ones can be salvaged or temporarily restored to serve as shelters for the residents.
He, however, added that some residents have been given temporary shelter and safe havens at churches.
Mr. Christian Corletyey Otuteye, the Member of Parliament for the Sege Constituency reacting to the incident cautioned that if action is not taken at the earliest possible time, the effects of the waves will exceed what residents are currently experiencing.
“I visited the places upon receiving the news about the tidal waves ravaging the communities in my constituency, and I could say that this is a bad incident that has ever happened to the communities in terms of the wave,” he lamented.
Mr. Otuteye said, he would raise the issue on the floor of Parliament for the Minister responsible for Housing to answer questions about the status of the sea defence wall.
Mr. Abel Apaflo, a resident of Foah in the Ada East District said that although the situation was worse other communities including Kpoji and the Otlorkper would also be hit.
Mr. Dan Martey Teye, a resident of Akplabanya said the area was largely affected to the extent that residents have nothing to salvage adding that, properties running into thousands of Ghana cedis have been destroyed.
He said this year’s waves have affected many households and individuals, displacing many residents and destroying fishing tools, livestock, and other indispensable valuables.
He indicated that even though the ravages of tidal waves were not new to the Ada coastal belts, the damage this year has been enormous, disrupting major economic activities, and affecting women, children, and other vulnerable people in these communities.
Mr. Philip Tetteh Sai, the Assembly Member for Anyamam Electoral Area said thousands of the residents have been displaced and would remain outside for some days considering the distance the seawater has traveled in the two communities.
He noted that most buildings have collapsed which rendered most of the victims homeless hence what they could do to help the victims was to let them move to occupy the church buildings in the towns as an immediate solution awaiting intervention from donors or the government.
Mr. Sai who is also the Presiding Member for the Ada West District Assembly said, “this has happened for close to 25 years and called on the authorities to do something about it”.
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