The West African Network for Peace Building(WANEP) is pushing for more security presence in Ga South Municipality following flooding in the area.
According to the security think-thank, this will prevent possible exploitation of the emergency by criminal networks to perpetrate crimes and protect lives and properties.
The call comes after over one thousand homes have been affected displacing hundreds of residents in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
Several others have been trapped in their homes as Ashalaja, Weija, Oblogo and Tetegu areas.
The residents have described it as a crisis situation as many homes have nearly been submerged. Some have had to use canoes to avoid drowning. They describe the situation as a crisis.
According to them, the flood is a result of an overflow of the Weija dam.
WANEP in a report on the flooding situation appealed for rescue operations to be extended until the flood waters completely recede.
“There is a need for District Authorities to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, Ghana Health Services and National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to provide humanitarian relief support to the affected victims to save lives, especially vulnerable women, children, aged and persons with disabilities in the affected areas.”
WANEP in its risk analysis noted that “destruction of properties, including homes, farmlands, vital infrastructure, and businesses has implications for livelihood security in the affected areas. Persons who have been rendered homeless may face challenges as hunger, health risk and lack of alternate shelter, as further sustained heavy rainfall forecasted by the Ghana Meteorological Service Department, could trigger additional flooding in low-lying communities in the area.”
It further said “There is the possibility of further flooding in areas contiguous to the affected communities. Sites located downstream from the dam or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. There is a potential risk of landslides in the hilly areas of the Weija, especially where heavy rainfall has saturated the soil.”
WANEP further observed that “The flood waters may render commercial routes inaccessible, posing dangers to drivers who may attempt to navigate ponded routes. Again, localized business disruptions may make some businesses not to operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities. Another significant health risk in the event of flooding is outbreak of diseases and epidemics. Waterborne infections, or those brought on by ingesting or encountering contaminated water, are likely to affect communities. Diarrhea, cholera, typhoid fever, and leptospirosis are a few examples that residents in the affected communities risk contracting.”
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/102.5FM