General News of Saturday, 17 November 2007

Source: GNA

Flood victims still in need - Minister

Bolgatanga, Nov. 17, GNA - Victims of the recent flood disaster in the Upper East Region are still suffering from their loss and the situation is more challenging than it earlier on appeared to be, Mr Alhassan Samari, Regional Minister said on Friday.

He said even though the response of many people and organisations to the plight of the victims has been very good, much more help was still needed as the victims still had six dry months to live through without producing food on their own.

Mr Samari said this when he received 100 pieces of cloths valued at 35 million cedis from the Bolgatanga branch of the Ghana Textile Print (GTP) for the victims.

He thanked GTP for their help and said it was very comforting for the victims and the people of the region to receive so much help and to know that many people were concerned cared during their time of difficulty.

He also thanked all the organisations and individuals that gave their help and appealed for more, saying, "we still have a long way to go."

Mr Kwesi Baden, Bolgatanga Municipal Manager, GTP who presented the cloths said it was the company's contribution to lessen the pain of loss for the victims.

He said the cloths were designed for the anniversary year and asked the beneficiaries to let the remembrance of the special year bring them happiness that would take away their sorrow. The Senior Staff Association of the Northern Electricity Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA) earlier on donated four million cedis to the victims.

Mr Thompson Agalab, who presented the money on behalf of the association said even though the VRA, as a corporate body had earlier made a donation of relief items to the victims, the association was giving their quota to help.