Security Council moves to avert disaster in Kumasi

The Kumasi Metropolitan Security Council (METSEC), has constituted a Metro Disaster Rapid Response Team to deal with emergencies in the wake of the torrential rains being experienced in the country.

The rains had so far claimed scores of lives in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, and with Kumasi experiencing some heavy downpour in the last couple of days, the Council at its meeting on June 4 decided to constitute the Team to respond to any emergency.

Suburbs including Aboabo Number One and Two, Atonsu and some parts of the Kumasi Central Market had seen some flooding, following two days of torrential rains.

The constitution of the Response Team is coming on the heels of a directive from the Meteorological Services Department, warning the people to brace themselves for more rainfall and if possible, take comprehensive measures to protect lives and property.

A statement issued by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and initialed by the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr. Kojo Bonsu, said the Response Team was drawn from the military, police, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the ambulance and fire service.

It warned residents to desist from throwing garbage into the drains as it prevents the flood waters to flow away smoothly causing flooding and havoc.

The statement noted that the Assembly had already taken steps to desilt drains in flood-prone areas including Kronom, Krapa, Kuwait, Atonsu S-Line, Ramseyer, Bremang-Nkwantwuma and Atafoa.

It expressed its condolences to families who lost their relatives in the recent flooding and fire explosion in Accra.