Yendi(N/R), Sept. 21, GNA - Mr Ernest Akubour Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), has urged traditional rulers to assist in monitoring the distribution of relief items to flood victims in affected areas.

He explained that traditional leaders were closer to the people and in a better position to ensure relief items were distributed to the victims.

Mr Debrah made the appeal during a courtesy call on Kanpakoya Naa Abdulai Yakubu Andani, Regent of Yendi at his palace. The Minister, who is a member of the inter-ministerial task force to supervise distribution of relief items was touring some districts in the Northern Region to assess the extent of damage to farmlands and institute measures to assist affected farmers. Mr Debrah said when the drought, which preceded the floods hit the Northern, Upper East and West Regions, government intervened and provided planting materials, fertilizers and insecticides to enable the farmers to re-crop.

He said, "unfortunately, the floods immediately followed destroying everything".

The Minister urged farmers to exercise patience adding: "These are natural disasters that cannot be predicted and prevented. They serve as wake-up call for us to store more food against emergency". He also paid a courtesy call on the Bolin Lana Mahamadu Abdulai.