Regional News of Friday, 10 July 2009

Source: GNA

Flood displaces 200 people at Bomso

Kumasi, July 10, GNA - About 200 people at Bomso in the Kumasi Metropolis were on Thursday displaced following a downpour in the Ashanti Region. The affected residents, most of who live along the Susan River had their property, worth several thousands of Ghana Cedis, destroyed following the rains but there were no casualties. The situation had seen the main foot bridge linking Anloga and Susanso destroyed and residents have to find alternative routes to their destination.

Some churches including the Hope Ministries, Family Chapel and Fire Ministries have also been temporarily closed down as their premises had all been flooded.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the affected sites, including Anloga, Sobolo, Oforikrom Extension and Susanso on Friday morning the affected residents were still stranded and some were clearing the water in their rooms. Palm kernel extractors at Sobolo were the most affected as their huts and workshops had all been destroyed. "I do not know what to do since all my personal effects and businesses have been destroyed," Mrs Mavis Azumah, told the GNA amidst tears.

She said her major worry was how to restart her business since it required huge capital and therefore appealed to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to come to their aid. Mr William Kwame Fordjour, Assembly Member of the Bomso Electoral Area, appealed to the residents to exercise restraint as he was working to give them a relief.

He said he was not happy at the way some residents dumped refuse in the Susan River, impeding the water course which occasionally caused flooding. Meanwhile, a team of officials from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) led by Mr Samuel Sarpong, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) had paid a visit to the scene of the flooding to assess the extent of damage caused. He said his outfit would do its best to come to the aid of the affected residents. 10 July 09