Regional News of Friday, 14 October 2005

Source: GNA

Soil erosion threatens community

Nkoranza (B/A) Oct. 14 GNA - Soil erosion is threatening the people of Sessiman, a suburb of Nkoranza, especially during the current rains which have place a number of houses on the verge of collapse. The many affected households have no choice but to abandon their buildings for another place.

Mr. James Kwabena Appiah-Awuah, Nkoranza District Chief Executive who conducted the Ghana News Agency (GNA) round to inspect the areas said the problem was beyond the control of the Assembly as several millions of cedis would have to be sunk into a project of checking erosion.

He said there was the need for some technical experts to conduct a study into the problem to advice on how to control the situation. He therefore, pleaded with the Ministry of Roads and Highways as a matter of urgency to send officers to the area to inspect and provide the necessary advice to save the lives of the people. Mr. Appiah-Awuah disclosed that the Assembly was to provide a building plot and 50 bags of cement and two bundles of roofing sheets to one Madam Akosua Nyamekye whose two bedrooms had been destroyed by the erosion.

The other people affected would later be relocated if plans to check the erosion against the houses proved futile. The Chief Executive called on the Government to quickly intervene to help find solutions to the problem affecting the lives of the people of Sessiman.

Nana Kwabena Tetteh, Nifahene of Nkoranza traditional area and Chief of the area attributed the problem to the lack of street drains in the area as the floods after every rainfall runs to the southern part of Nkoranza and to Sessiman where the community is located. According to Nana Tetteh, the residents have tried several times to control the situation but to no avail. Meanwhile the entire community have launched a "Save Our Souls " (SOS) campaign and appealed to NGOs and spirited individuals to visit Sessiman and provide them with the needed assistance.