The devastating floods that swept through parts of the Central Region following three days of torrential rainfall have claimed the lives of 18 people, affected 877 residents and caused the collapse of 58 buildings, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has disclosed.
Addressing a press briefing at the Ekon Community disaster site yesterday, the Central Regional Director of NADMO, Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi Mensah Dawood, described the situation as one of the worst flood disasters recorded in the region in recent years.
According to him, the floods resulted from prolonged heavy downpours that battered the region from Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21, causing widespread destruction to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.
Mr. Dawood explained that although the Central Region has 23 administrative districts, only 13 districts were directly affected by the flooding. However, the impact on affected communities has been severe, leaving hundreds displaced and many families struggling to recover from their losses.
He revealed that the Cape Coast Metropolis recorded the highest number of fatalities, accounting for eight of the 18 deaths reported across the region.
“The scale of destruction has been significant. Many families have lost their homes and personal belongings, while several communities remain vulnerable to future flooding if urgent preventive measures are not taken,” he stated.
Relief Challenges
The Regional Director expressed concern over the limited availability of relief supplies to support affected victims, stressing that NADMO’s warehouses had been depleted following emergency response efforts.
“As we are speaking, our stores are empty. There are shortages of relief items, and we urgently need support to assist the affected families,” Mr. Dawood said.
He therefore appealed to corporate institutions, non-governmental organisations, philanthropists and chief executive officers of companies to come to the aid of flood victims through donations of food, clothing, bedding, roofing materials and other essential items.
According to him, immediate assistance is needed to provide temporary shelter and basic necessities for displaced residents as authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.
Evacuation Order
In a move aimed at preventing future loss of lives, Mr. Dawood issued a stern warning to residents occupying waterways and flood-prone areas.
He announced that individuals who have constructed houses in watercourses, wetlands and other high-risk zones would be required to evacuate within two weeks.
“Anyone who has built in water-prone areas must relocate within the next two weeks. We cannot continue to lose lives because people choose to live in dangerous locations,” he cautioned.
The NADMO Director urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strictly enforce building regulations and ensure that unauthorized structures in flood-prone zones are removed.
Call for Preparedness
Mr. Dawood further called on residents to heed weather warnings and cooperate with disaster management authorities to reduce the impact of future flooding incidents.
He emphasized that climate-related disasters were becoming increasingly frequent and required collective action from government agencies, local authorities and communities.
Meanwhile, assessment teams have been deployed to affected districts to compile detailed reports on the extent of damage and determine the level of support required for recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
The floods have once again renewed calls for improved drainage systems, stricter enforcement of planning regulations and increased public awareness on disaster preparedness across the region.
