Following the recent torrential rains that displaced hundreds of people in the Western Region, most especially in the Ahanta West and Nzema East municipalities, the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL), which has swathes of rubber plantations in the region, has quickly extended a hand of help to those affected by the downpour by going to their aid.
The company has donated relief items at the cost of GH¢135,000 through the Ahanta West and Nzema East Municipal assembly for onward distribution to the residents affected and displaced by the downpour.
GREL has, most particularly, swathes of rubber plantations in Ahanta West and Nzema East, and sees these areas as its host communities.
The items included 70 bags of rice, 40 bags of sugar, 40 bags of sachet water and 60 pieces of blanket. The rest are 70 boxes of tinned tomatoes, 15 bags of gari, 40 boxes of 1 litre Frytol vegetable oil, and 400 gallons of liquid soap.
It would be recalled that, last two weeks, a continuous heavy downpour occurred, displacing hundreds of people in the Ahanta West and Nzema East municipalities.
In Ahanta West for instance, communities like Ewusiejoe, Ahuntumano, Hotopo, Fretsi, Aiyinase, and Abura amongst others were badly hit by the downpour.
National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) reports have it that a total of 2,227 people were affected and displaced by the downpour. That apart, 889 buildings, mostly made of mud, were razed to the ground.
In Nzema East also, the NADMO officer, Anthony Ernest Amoah, reported that about 10 communities were affected by the rain storm. He mentioned the communities as Ankobra, Ehyiam, Akaso, Bamianko.
A total of 1,500 people, he said, were displaced, and buildings, including the chief’s palace, were razed to the ground.
Given the effect of the downpour on the residents, whose communities falls within the GREL catchment areas, the company donated the relief items to help ameliorate the challenges of the affected residents.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Society of Rubber Plantations (SIPH), Marc Genot, led the management and staff of GREL to present the relief items to the two Municipal assemblies.
Presenting the items, Marc Genot said GREL quickly organised to relieve the situation given the extent of damage caused by the downpour. “We convey our heart feelings to those people that have been affected,” and expressed the hope the relief items would be given to the displaced persons.
Present at the donation included the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ahanta West, John Agyare, Nana Kwesi Agyemang XI, Omanhene of Lower Dixcove and Chairman of the Association of Chiefs, on whose lands GREL operates (ACALANGO), Awulae Atibrukusu III, Vice Chairman of ACALANGO and Omanhene of Axim.
Mavis Abena Johnson, Deputy NADMO Director for Ahanta West, and Anthony Ernest Amoah, NADMO Director for Nzema East, were also present.
The MCE for Ahanta West, John Agyare, expressed the Assembly’s heartfelt appreciation to GREL for responding quickly to extend a hand of help to those affected and displaced by the downpour.
He indicated that though he had written several letters to corporate Ghana to extend assistance to those affected by the downpour, GREL was the first and only company to respond.
