Hundreds of residents in six communities in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region, who were displaced by floods, have received relief items and various sums of monies from their Member of Parliament (MP), Dorcas Affo-Toffey.
The communities are Nzulezu, Elubo, Ghana Nungua, Cocoa Town, Nsuano, and Zongo Community in Elubo. Also affected were basic schools, especially the Nzulezu Primary School.
The recent flood severely affected pupils given that their schools were flooded disrupting teaching and learning.
This reporter gathered that this is the first time in over 600 years that flood has hit the world tourist destination, Nzulezu, and other satellite communities.
The affected residents in Nzulezu, for instance, were said to have been evacuated in boats to Beyin, a nearby community, for shelter.
The community, which is entirely made up of stilts and houses over 500 inhabitants, was submerged after it rained continuously for seven days.
Properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedis were destroyed in the affected communities including Nzulezu.
Following reports, the MP visited the six communities to assess the extent of damage to the residents and properties, and sympathise with the victims.
Madam Affo-Toffey, apart from the relief items, also donated an undisclosed amount of monies to the communities.
Nzulezu, for instance, received an amount of GH¢10,000 to be used to resolve the insanitary situation due to the floods.
Madam Affo-Toffey, in an interview with the media, said “It’s all about education, zoning and planning because elsewhere, before someone would build, you have to go to the town and country planning department to seek approval and permit”.
“They will ensure the buildings are built in a place that would not disrupt rain water. What we can say for now is for them to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse. We have a long way to go, but I am sure, with time, things will change,” the MP said in Twi.
Madam Affo-Toffey further said: “They [residents] have built here for long years, so they cannot leave here, but we shall educate them to stop dumping refuse.”
The Jomoro MP continued: “Provisions are being made to support those who do not have places to sleep. These places are flood zones areas, so there is nothing that could be done.”
The Abusuapayin of Nzulezu, Abizi Kojo, expressed the heartfelt appreciation of the community to the Legislature for supporting them, but, however, said that the extent of destruction the flood had caused the communities included destroying the walkways and toilet facilities which were used by tourists.
He, therefore, called on the Tourism Ministry and the Ghana Tourist Board to urgently help in fixing their slipways and the tourist toilet facility, since despite the flooding the community was still receiving visitors from all over the world.
