Relief Fund established for flood victims

Accra, Oct. 5, GNA - The Northern Development Forum (NDF) has established the Northern Relief Fund to manage financial contributions to support victims of the floods that have wrecked havoc in the three northern regions.

In a statement issued in Accra on Friday, the Forum said two accounts had been opened at the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), ADB House, in Accra for the purpose. The Cedi Account Number is 1161000002986 while the US Dollar Account number is 1162000000348. It said auditors hadalso been appointed. About 153 million cedis was realised at the maiden meeting of the Forum last Sunday. The statement said the Fund, under Chairmanship of Dr Hakim Wemah, would be managed by one person from each of the three northern regions. They are Mr Adam Sulley for the Upper West Region, Mrs. Susana Mahama for the Upper East Region and Dr Hafez Adam Taher for Northern Region.

Ten members from each of the three regions have also been selected to serve on four committees - Fund Raising and Finance, Reconstruction, Public Affairs and Data Bank and Research. The statement said following the heavy floods that hit the three regions of the northern part of Ghana and the havoc caused in their wake, a group of like-minded people saw the need to meet in order to come up with measures to help the flood victims in the short-term and to consider drawing up a more comprehensive long-term plan and strategies for finding sustainable solutions to the distressed situation of the three regions.

Official statistics indicate that 56 people have died, about 300,000 have been registered as internally displaced people, 35,000 houses collapsed and almost 60,000 farms have been destroyed. More than 500 km of roads and a number of bridges have been affected. A large amount of agricultural produce and livestock have also been lost.

The floods have affected drinking water supply and the health of the people in the three regions. The statement said food shortage would be very severe particularly in the dry season if mitigating measures are not taken immediately. The Forum said its main concern was to contribute financially and materially to support the relief programme in the affected areas, in collaboration with non-governmental organisations, religious bodies, development partners in an effort to complement the work of the Government of Ghana.

"For a more efficient and effective management of the Relief items the Forum is appealing to the Government of Ghana to establish committees or task forces on the regional, district and local council levels, comprising NADMO, religious bodies, political parties, NGO's and representatives of traditional rulers for a more coordinated and transparent distribution of relief items." It said the Forum would present a memo to the Government of Ghana on a suggested comprehensive reconstruction programme to be put in place for better development of the three regions, particularly in the areas of housing, industry, agriculture, construction of dams for dry season farming, education, health, roads and transport. The Forum thanked the Government of Ghana, development partners, diplomatic missions, NGOs, religious bodies, the private business sector and individuals who have been providing relief to the victims of the floods.