Ave Dakpa (V/R), Aug. 14, GNA - Over 2,000 inhabitants of the Ave tradition area in the Akatsi district of the Volta Region have been rendered homeless as their buildings had collapsed under the devastating effects of massive erosion caused by seasonal downpours in the area over the years.

The Akatsi District Chief Executive, Mr Anthony Abledu, who paid an inspection tour of the area recently, declared the affected town, notably Ave Havi, Dzadzafe and Ave Afiadenyigba a disaster zone. The action of the DCE followed a persistent outcry of the chiefs and people of the area for immediate intervention of the government in form of resettlement and relief assistance for the victims. Torgbui Gamor Ahiabor IV, chief of Ave Havi, who took the DCE and his team of engineers round, was visibly overwhelmed with emotion as he showed them the damaging effect of the erosion, and some of the victims still living under partly collapsed roofs and walls. According to the chief many of the victims, particularly the youth had deserted the town, leaving the aged and the sick who could not till the land for cultivation of maize for which the area is best known. The General Secretary for Ave Havi Development Union, Mr. Richard Tsisah intimated that several appeals had been made to the authrities but all had fallen on death ears and expressed the hope that this time round the Government would respond quickly to their plight. The Queenmother of the area, Mama Aviakpui III, said she had always wondered whether her area was part of Ghana, for the apparent complete neglect of her people, adding that, there was no drainage along the trunk road that passes through the towns.

The DCE assured the chiefs and people that he would do everything in his power to support the sorrow-stricken victims whose buildings had been razed to the ground within the quickest possible time. When the MP of the area, Mr Doe Adjaho was contacted for his comments, he said he was deeply touched by the plight of the people and promised to work closely with the Assembly to help the victims in every possible way.