Storm kills four, displaces thousands in Garu

At least three pupils died last Tuesday from thunder strikes and some 1,451 people displaced following a rainstorm that hit parts of the Garu-Tempani District in the Upper East Region.

The deceased were 10-year-old class three pupil, Emelia Attiga, 12-year-old class five pupil, Ezekiel Atiiga and nine-year-old class two pupil, Gladys Atiiga all of the Meliga Primary School.

Barely a week after the incident, another tragedy occurred at Gagbiri where a 20-year-old male student of the Bawku Senior High School, Azisi Musah, was struck by thunder during a downpour bringing the number of recorded deaths to four.

At least 100 houses and 1,451 people made up of 674 males and 773 females have been affected by the rainstorm.

The victims, most of whom are peasant farmers and already showing red in food stocks, would have their situations worsened as the disasters occurred during the lean season where families have little food to feed on.

The storm caused severe destruction to houses, schools and churches amongst others. At least five schools had their roofs ripped off while several economic trees including shea were also affected.

The communities affected included Zesire which was worst hit with 250 people displaced, Largatinga, Woriyanga, Bianbog, Garu, Milliga, Kugashiegu, Gogbiri, Yezedug, Nabina, Siguri, Kugri, Zansirigbuliga, Worikambo, Denugu, Samaduri, Songo, Sabsunde and Tempane.

The other communities are Yabraogo, Dabilla, Kpatia, Gozesi, Kolmasug and Gagbire which have been cut off from Garu as the road is impassable.

At Kugragu in Garu about 10 high tension electrical poles were destroyed, posing a danger to residents.

Mr. Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, the District Chief Executive for Garu-Tempane, told the GNA that maternal health in the area was under threat due to lack of access to the town centre by some communities.

He said there were signs of havoc from the rainfall this year as the Ghana Metrological Agency had made a forecast that early rains would be accompanied by devastating winds in the District and its environs.

Mr. Alalzuuga said the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the District Assembly had started education on radio on the need for residents to take precautionary measures.

He said affected persons would be sheltered in classrooms temporarily while efforts are made to get relief assistance for support them.

Mrs. Grace Nkaw Awini, the District NADMO Coordinator, said 100 houses and 1,451 people including 674 males and 773 females were affected by the rainstorm.

Additional 170 people who moved to Denugu and Siisi as result of protracted conflict between Bimobas and Mamprusis in the Northern region have also been displaced.

The affected persons have appealed to the government, NGOs and benevolent individuals to come to their aid.