Thousands of residents who were displaced by floods in six communities in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region have received relief items and various sums of monies from their Member of Parliament, 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.
It has been destroyed by the floods, affecting pupils, since teaching and learning were halted.
It was the first time in over six hundred years that such floods hit the world’s tourism destination area, Nzulezu, and other communities.
Some residents in Nzulezu were evacuated on boats to Beyin, a nearby community in the area, for shelter.
The community, which is entirely made up of stilts and houses of over 500 inhabitants, almost submerged after it rained continuously for seven days.
Properties worth thousands of Ghana cedis were destroyed in these communities.
The MP was in these six communities to assess the extent of damage to the residents and property and sympathize with the victims.
Madam Affo-Toffey, apart from the relief items to all these communities, also donated an amount to them.
Nzulezu, for instance, received an amount of GH¢10,000 to be used to solve the unsanitary situation due to the floods.
In an interview with the media, Madam Affo-Toffey 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 raining 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 added, “They [residents] have built here for a long year so they cannot leave here but we shall educate them to stop dumping refuse.
“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, said the walkways and toilet facilities which are used by tourists have also been destroyed.
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 the community is still welcoming tourists from all over the world despite the flooding.
