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FLOOD DISASTER HITS ABUAKWAH MANHYIA GAWAO: RESIDENTS SOUND ALARM, DEMAND URGENT GOVERNMENT ACTION
Homes and valuables submerged as an overflowing bridge and poor drainage fuel recurring floods;residents call on government and MP to act before lives are lost.
By:Justice Baffour Awuah/managing director,dailywatchgh.com-0246930931
Residents of Abuakwah Manhyia Gawao in the Atwima Nwabiagya South District of the Ashanti Region are crying out for urgent government intervention after another devastating flood swept through parts of the community,damaging homes and destroying valuable household belongings.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the community’s vulnerability to flooding, with residents warning that their lives and properties remain exposed to danger whenever heavy rainfall occurs.
According to affected residents,the situation worsened after a local bridge was overwhelmed by rising floodwaters,causing water to spill into adjoining residential areas and leaving several households counting their losses.
Some residents reportedly lost essential household items and other personal possessions,while the incident has left many families anxious about what could happen during the next heavy downpour.
Speaking in an interview with Oheneba Dankwah Jupitar Owusu, residents attributed the recurring flooding to choked gutters, inadequate drainage facilities and the lack of properly constructed channels to direct rainwater away from homes.
They explained that the existing drainage system cannot contain the volume of water during heavy rainfall, resulting in dangerous overflows from the bridge and surrounding waterways into residential properties.
The residents lamented that rainfall,which should ordinarily bring relief,has become a source of fear and uncertainty,with families constantly worried about the safety of their children,homes and belongings.
They cautioned that failure to address the problem could result in more serious consequences,particularly if another heavy downpour occurs before the necessary interventions are undertaken.
Consequently,the affected residents are appealing to the government,the Atwima Nwabiagya South District Assembly and their Member of Parliament to urgently visit the community and mobilise resources to address the situation.
Their immediate demands include the desilting of choked gutters,removal of refuse and other obstructions from drainage channels,as well as the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing drainage infrastructure.
They are also demanding a comprehensive engineering assessment of the local bridge and adjoining water channels to establish the causes of the repeated overflows and identify appropriate measures to prevent future flooding.
However, the residents insist that merely clearing the gutters will not be enough to address the persistent problem, stressing the need for a well-planned and permanent drainage solution.
They have further called for improvements to access infrastructure to ensure that the community does not become difficult to reach or disconnected during periods of heavy rainfall.
Beyond the destruction of property, residents say the recurring floods pose serious threats to public safety, sanitation and the overall living conditions of the people.
They are therefore urging the relevant authorities to treat the situation with the urgency it deserves, inspect the affected areas, assess the extent of the damage and engage community members in developing a sustainable response.
For the residents of Abuakwah Manhyia Gawao, the appeal is simple but urgent: they do not want to wait for a major tragedy before their concerns receive the attention they deserve.
They insist that decisive government intervention is needed now to protect lives,safeguard property and end the recurring flooding nightmare confronting the community.
