The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that recent flooding incidents across Ghana have claimed 29 lives, with six people still missing.
Speaking before Parliament’s Public Assurance Committee, Mr Muntaka said the fatalities were recorded following separate flood disasters in the Greater Accra, Central and Volta regions.
According to him, the Central Region suffered one of the deadliest incidents a week before the June 29 floods in Accra, resulting in the deaths of 18 people and the collapse of about 58 houses.
“Per the records we have, if you recollect, the Central Region, a week before June 29, recorded its biggest disaster where we lost 18 people and about 58 houses collapsed,” he said.
The Minister said the June 29 floods in Accra initially claimed 12 lives, with seven people reported missing.
However, he revealed that another body was recovered on Monday, which, if officially confirmed, would increase the death toll in Accra to 13 while reducing the number of missing persons to six.
“For the June 29 incident in Accra, the records we have show that 12 people lost their lives and seven were missing. I was told yesterday that a body was found, so if that person is confirmed dead, it brings the death toll to 13 and reduces the number of missing persons to six,” he stated.
Mr Muntaka added that four people also lost their lives in flood-related incidents in the Volta Region, bringing the nationwide death toll to 29.
He said government activated emergency response measures immediately after the disasters, including the preparation of temporary shelters for displaced residents.
Despite the arrangements, the Minister noted that many affected residents preferred to remain within their communities rather than relocate to the designated shelters.
“People did not want to go to the shelters. What they wanted were relief items so they could remain in their communities,” he explained.
Mr Muntaka disclosed that the Ministry of Gender identified three shelters with the capacity to accommodate about 200 displaced persons, while an additional facility at Ashaiman could house up to 1,000 people.
He added that authorities also arranged for extra mattresses and identified public offices that could be converted into temporary accommodation if required.
The Interior Minister further revealed that the National Security Secretariat had made available another facility capable of accommodating about 300 displaced persons as part of government’s emergency preparedness measures.
He assured Parliament that government agencies remain on high alert and will continue providing relief and support to affected communities as recovery efforts continue.
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