By Samuel Spio-Gabrah, GNA
Tema, June 06, GNA – Mr Ludwig Teye Totimeh, the Tema West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has led the distribution of emergency relief items to residents affected by recent floods in the municipality.
The exercise, which began on Friday, covered some of the hardest-hit communities, including Sakumono village, Community Three, and Community Five.
Mr Totimeh expressed sympathy to families affected by the floods and said the relief items, comprising mattresses, buckets, cups, blankets, and mosquito nets, were intended to provide immediate support to victims who had lost property and household items.
He urged residents to desist from putting up structures on waterways, stressing that the obstruction of drainage channels remained a major cause of recurring flooding in the municipality.
The MCE warned that the assembly would not hesitate to demolish unauthorised structures erected on wetlands and Ramsar sites, explaining that such environmentally sensitive areas played a critical role in absorbing excess rainwater.
Mr. Totimeh advised prospective developers to seek guidance from the engineering and physical planning departments of the Tema West Municipal Assembly and obtain the necessary permits before commencing construction projects.
He said the first phase of the relief distribution exercise covered the Railway and Kaiser electoral areas, bringing assistance to hundreds of residents affected by the floods.
Mr Totimeh added that officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) had indicated that the exercise would continue on Monday to ensure that affected residents in the remaining electoral areas also received support.
He reaffirmed the assembly’s commitment to supporting affected communities and implementing measures to reduce the impact of flooding within the municipality.
Meanwhile, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed that a lot of communities across the municipality, including parts of Lashibi, Klagon, Sakumono Village, and others, got flooded, with residents struggling to protect their properties and lives.
Residents were seen wading through stagnant water as houses, shops, and other structures remained partially surrounded by floodwaters two days after the heavy downpour.
The scene highlights the recurring flooding challenges facing low-lying communities along the Sakumono Lagoon catchment area and the municipality.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Samuel Spio-Gabrah, GNA