‘We’ve Been Abandoned’: Flood Victims Say NADMO Never Reached Us as Homes Collapse and Residents Flee by Canoe

Residents of Dosukokpe-Anlo in the Volta Region have issued a desperate plea for government intervention after devastating floods displaced scores of families, destroyed farms and homes, and claimed the life of one resident through electrocution.

Speaking on behalf of the community to Kessben Maakye in Accra, Edmund Atsu Akpedo said while flooding has been a recurring problem over the years, the current disaster is the worst the area has experienced in decades.
“We’ve been experiencing floods all these years, but this level of flooding has never happened in recent age,” he said.
According to him, the last time the community witnessed a similar disaster was in the 1980s.The floods have submerged farmlands, washed away crops, and severely eroded the community’s main road, leaving residents stranded and cutting off access to essential services. Several mud houses have also collapsed after being weakened by the persistent rains.
With roads rendered impassable, canoes have become the only means of transporting residents to safer grounds.

Mr. Akpedo further revealed that one resident was electrocuted and died during the flooding. He expressed frustration that, despite the disaster lasting for about two weeks, authorities had yet to provide any meaningful assistance.
“We heard that NADMO was offering relief to nearby communities, but no support has reached us here in Dosukokpe,” he lamented.Community leaders estimate that about 100 residents have been rendered homeless, with many now relying on the support of relatives and neighbours as they await urgent relief.

The residents are appealing to the government, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and humanitarian organisations to immediately provide food, shelter, medical supplies, and support to help affected families rebuild their lives.

By Maurice Otoo