Agona Duotu, April 3, GNA - A heavy downpour accompanied by a severe winds has hit nine communities in the Agona East District of the Central Region rendering at least 800 people homeless. The storm described by weather experts as a cyclone, lasted for 30 minutes destroying about 150 houses, including school buildings and teachers quarters in the area.

The affected communities were Agona Duotu, Ahuntem, Adasemase, Bereporow, Toperekwa, Kwesi Dadziekwa, Ohenekwa, Duabone and Kwakwandoh.

Mr John Kwesi Agyabeng, Member of Parliament for Agona East who took a team of reporters round to inspect the affected communities, made a passionate appeal to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), non governmental organizations (NGOs), Agona East District Assembly and the government for immediate assistance. He said the disaster did not only affect their houses but also destroyed food and cash crops in the area. The MP said as a result of climatic change in the equatorial areas, Ghana was bound to experience more severe winds and urged the people to plant trees in their communities to serve as future windbreaks.

Mr Patrick Kobina Assan, Assembly man for the Duotu Electoral Area told reporters in an interview that the affected people were staying with their relatives, in church buildings and the chief's palace.

He appealed to the Assembly and Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to come to the aid of the victims. Nana Kwabre, Chief of Duabone appealed to the Assembly and NADMO to help re-roof the teachers quarters that had been ripped off to help solve the accommodation difficulties facing teachers in area. 3 April 11