Heavy Rainstorm Leaves 496 People Homeless in Mpaha.

 

                             The District Chief Executive officer consoling some of the rainstorm victims.

                                           Some of the market structures which was affected

                                                the only road network was affected by the rain.

                        The water storage tank which supply the entire community was also affected.

 Salim Tanko, a second year student of Mpaha District Assemble drying his books after the disaster

                   Madam Zhalia Mahamadu and child looking helpless after their house was destroyed.

                                            some collapsed houses during my visit to the place

                                 some women and children discussing about their fate after the rainstorm

                                                           some of the affected houses
                                                                                                  Photos: Geoffrey Buta

By Geoffrey Buta

A heavy rainstorm has swept through Mpaha, a farming community of over 8,000 people in the Central Gonja District in the Northern Region leaving at least 496 people homeless.

The rainstorm accompanied by strong winds started around 2 am on Wednesday dawn pounded and hit Mpaha Township for only 30 minutes destroying 92 houses, 189 rooms and displacing 496 persons, according to Mr. Adam Abdulai Square, the assemble man for the area.

Though no life was lost in the incident, but not less than 9 houses collapsed while roofs of various houses blown off.

 The District Executive Officer of the area, Mr.  Issifu Salisu Be-Awuribe and his team confirmed the issues to TIMES after inspecting the affected area.

He attributed part of the disaster to the poor quality of building materials used in building their houses which shows the poverty level of the locality, added.

He said, the estimated cost of the property destroyed worth GHC 77,000 while scores of residents are homeless.

Mr. Be- Awuribe assured the victims of the Government’s prompt intervention to ameliorate their suffering.

He also urged them to stop cutting down trees for fire woods, but rather plant more of them to prevent future disaster occurring.

While counting their losses when TIMES photojournalist, Geoffrey Buta visited the community, many were seen retrieving what was left of their belongings from the debris and others discussing their fate.

Madam Zhalia Mahamadu, a victim who was seen seated under a tree with her two daughters looking helpless appealed to the Government and other humanitarian organization to come to their aide.

The rainstorm also washed away the main road through the community causing severe erosion and also destroying the only water storage tank which provides water for the whole community.