Northern Region floods: Eastern Corridor cutoff

The famous Eastern corridor stretch linking the north to the southern part of Ghana has been cutoff as a result of the heavy rains in the northern region.

On Tuesday, July 25, 2017 a severe downpour hit many parts of the region, destroying millions of properties, livestock, farmlands as well as human lives. About five districts in the region have its principal roads cut off from the regional capital, Tamale. Karaga-Tamale, Bimbilla-Yendi, Gushegu-Tamale among other stretch has all been affected.

Class News’ regional correspondent, Mohammed Gadafi reported that the Eastern Corridor road linking Nanumba North (Bimbilla), Nanumba South (Wulensi) through to Kpandai to Nkwanta in the Volta region have been destroyed.

Economic activities in these areas have come to a halt, since motorists from the north cant access the southern part of the country. The Nanumba district is the hub for yam production.

Meanwhile, many adjoining villages within Bimbilla are in distress as the major communities cannot access the district capital.

Notable among them include; Bimbilla-Jilo to Chechia, Pudoya, Bangdiyili, Bimbilla-Juo linking the Karaga District and Bimbilla-Waanpu through to Salaga, Chamba and Dakpam communities have all been affected.

The Nanumba North District Chief Executive, Abdulai Yakubu speaking to Gadafi lamented how devastating the situation is to the people in the area.

He revealed that over 40 villages in the district are affected. He added this has brought economic activities to halt.

According to him, many livestock, farmlands have been consumed by the floods. He stated many farmers in the district are in great loss as all their investment in this year's crop farming is lost to the floods. He bemoaned how some of them cannot repay their debts since they secured funds from financial institutions to farm.

Mr Yakubu called for the reconstruction of the collapse bridges along the eastern corridor road. He noted the district cannot afford the cost of it.

He called on the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Transport Ministry to take up the mantle and work on it as soon as possible for economic activities to begin again.

Meanwhile, some residents are counting their loss as they said their farms and livestock have been carried away by the flood. They called for support from Philanthropist, Non-Governmental Organisations and government to come to their aid for them to afford some decent living.