More than 30 houses have collapsed after severe flooding submerged several island communities in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, leaving scores of residents homeless and displaced.
The floods have affected communities including Laworshime, Hagodzi, Mamime, Songbe, and Agorbledokui, where rising waters have inundated homes, destroyed farmlands, and submerged crops and other valuable property.
Assembly Member for the Laworshime Electoral Area, Israel Mensah, described the situation as dire and appealed to the government and humanitarian organisations to provide immediate relief to affected residents.
According to him, the destruction has displaced many families, with some forced to sleep in the open while others have sought refuge with relatives in neighbouring communities.
“The collapse of more than 30 houses has left many families with nowhere to turn. Some residents are sleeping in the open or seeking refuge with relatives in less-affected communities. Others remain stranded in the island communities with limited access to food, clean water, and healthcare,” he said.
The floods have also cut off all road access to the affected communities, leaving canoes as the only means of transportation between the islands and the mainland.
Mensah expressed concern over the dangerous conditions residents are forced to endure, noting that many people now cross deep and fast-flowing waters without life jackets, exposing them to the risk of drowning.
He further revealed that the disaster has destroyed farmlands and submerged crops across the island communities, dealing a major blow to residents who depend largely on farming and fishing for their livelihoods.
“The floods have also wiped out farmlands and submerged crops across the island communities. This is a severe blow to people who depend largely on farming and fishing for their livelihoods,” he added.
Residents have also raised concerns over the growing risk of disease outbreaks as stagnant floodwaters continue to accumulate in the affected communities.
Mensah warned that prolonged exposure to contaminated water could trigger outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and other water-borne diseases if urgent intervention is not provided.
He called on the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the government, and other humanitarian agencies to swiftly provide relief items, temporary shelter, healthcare, and other essential support to help affected families recover from the disaster.
