Nine people drowned when the canoes by which they were crossing streams to their destinations,capsized, in the North East Region.
The disaster followed recent flooding that hit the region, resulting in the rising of water level of streams and rivers, destruction of houses, properties and displacement of some people.
Mr John Alhassan Kwaku, North East Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), confirmed the story to the Ghanaian Times, yesterday.
He stated that the victims died while attempting to cross a stream at Chereponi, in the Chereponi district, and another stream in Moguri, in Mamprugu/Moguri district.
The Regional NADMO Co-ordinator explained that in the two accidents, the canoes by which they travelling capsized, resulting in the deaths of nine people.
Mr Kwaku said that the bodies of the nine have been released to the bereaved families for burial in accordance with Islamic tradition.
He told the Ghanaian Times that hundreds of farmlands and crops have been destroyed and many houses collapsed, rendering occupants homeless.
Mr Kwaku said communities in East Mamprusi, West Manprusi,Mamprugu/Mongduri and Chereponi district were mostly affected by the floods.
He emphasised that the torrential rains have left some residents in the area with nothing as the floods have either destroyed or carried away their property.
In a related development, Abu Adam, Northern Regional Deputy Coordinator of NADMO, in-charge of operations, told the Ghanaian Times victims of floods in the region were still counting their loses.
He stated that the NADMO officials were accessing the situation, and would come out with the total numbers of affected persons.
Mr Adam said that the Northern Region has not recorded any death, adding that “Apart from the lost and destruction of properties, Northern region has not recorded any death”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Road and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, was in the region to assess the damage caused to roads.
FROM YAKUBU ABDUL-MAJEED, NALERIGU
