The Government on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, presented relief items to the families affected by this year’s floods in Buipe in the Central Gonja district of the Savannah Region. The Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Chief Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, made the donation in a brief ceremony at the Buipe R/C Basic School.
The items included detergents, boxes of bar soaps, assorted mineral water and beverages, plastic containers, buckets, bowls, cups, mats, bags of rice, cooking oil, diapers, clothes, among others.
The Chief Staff in her address noted the mandate of the committee as setup by President Nana Akufo-Addo is to bring rapid relief response to the affected families.
“His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as you’ve been told setup this Inter-Ministerial Committee to ensure that every aspect of your lives that would be affected are quickly address to your satisfaction” she said.
She indicated the committee and for that matter the government is saddened by the level of destruction caused by the disaster.
The Chief of Staff stated the government will do everything possible to avert the situation and safeguard lives and properties of the citizenry.
“Right here in Buipe, the district capital for Central Gonja, we have seen for ourselves how most residents at the river bank called bridge and its surroundings have been affected. The Director General of NADMO has embarked on a tour of affected communities on behalf of government as we can testify that food items, mattresses, mosquito nets among others have been provided” she said.
Madam Akosua Frema added the government in collaboration with the Ghana Red Cross and Ghana Education Service has also provided shelter kits for about 104 households and total of 555 victims at the Buipe R/C basic school.
The Committee chairperson further commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor for reporting the devastating situation to the government which has informed the government to respond with the relief items.
Meanwhile, the Savannah Regional Minister, Muazu Jibril, for his part thanked the Chief of Staff led Inter-Ministerial Committee for timely responding to the plight of the victims.
He revealed about four devastating floods have affected four districts in the region; namely Central Gonja, East Gonja municipal, West Gonja and the North Gonja districts.
Mr. Muazu also disclosed about 400 houses have been submerged, 987 households affected, male adults affected 1,073, female adults 1,130, children 1,456, 4 basic schools closed down, 1 toilet facility destroyed, 5 poultry farms totaling 1000 birds destroyed, 1,600 ruminants carried away, 15 submerged farmlands totaling 1,560 acres, adding Mosques and Churches were not spared.
“What is surprising or strange of this year’s floods in the region is in Buipe in particular, it is that it took everybody unaware because it happened a certain period last year and we were all anticipating that the floods would’ve come in October and we were unaware until the houses were submerged overnight due to heavy rains across the country” he lamented.
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson at the ceremony told the media that her ministry is working closely with the committee restore the livelihood of the fisher folks in the Central Gonja district.
She said the fishery sector has been adversely impacted by the natural disaster and has depleted the socioeconomic incomes of the fishers.
