By Edward Williams
Hohoe (V/R), Oct. 2, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama, has expressed government’s sympathy to victims of Hohoe flood and assured them of livelihood support.
“I was on my way back from New York, from the United Nations, when we heard what had happened here in Hohoe”.
President Mahama after assessing and interacting with some victims, said issues of climate change were leading to extreme weather phenomena which rarely occurred.
“At times the rain falls excessively and sometimes too there is a drought, so now you cannot predict how the weather will behave and so continuous rainfall I am informed in Togo brought a lot of water down the River Dayi and flooded the low-lying areas of Hohoe”.
President Mahama presented items from the presidency and acknowledged all donations that had been made.
He commended the traditional authorities, Member of Parliament, Municipal Chief Executive, and all stakeholders for their various support.
Mr James Gunu Volta Regional Minister, commended the President for his visit and donation which would go a long way to cushion victims.
He noted that President Mahama’s response to disaster victims especially in the Region was remarkable and urged victims not to relocate into their homes but wait for assessments.
Mr Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, Hohoe Member of Parliament (MP) pleaded with the President to support victims with building materials to help them rebuild.
He also acknowledged the donations from the Presidency through the Gender, Children, and Social Protection Ministry and expressed gratitude.
Mr Prosper Kumi, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) noted that aside the Zongo community, six other communities along the river line.
He said 5,336 households were individually affected as well as three critical bridges and appealed for support.
Mr Kumi said relief items were being received and distributed to victims.
Togbega Gabusu VII, Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, thanked the President for the visit.
He said it was the hope that the relief items were distributed to the victims.
Alhaji Muhammed Tajudeen Mairiga, Sarkin Zongo (Chief of the Zongo community), on behalf of the victims, thanked President Mahama for the gesture.
The items donated from the Presidency included bags of rice, washing powders, mattresses, blankets and bedsheets, cartons of kivo gari, cartons of frytol, mackerel, bags of sugar, boxes of soap, mosquito coil, bedmats, t-shirts, roofing sheets, pads and diapers, tissue papers, plastic basins and buckets.
Other donations include relief boxes of assorted food from MTN Ghana Foundation, cash donation from Volta Regional Caucus of Members of Parliament and a promise donation of 5,000 bags of branded Dzata cement.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Edward Williams