A flood caused by torrential rain swept through the Volta Regional capital, Ho on Saturday.
The late afternoon rain caused havoc in the suburbs downstream, destroying goods and properties worth millions of Ghana cedis.
A textile dealer, Ernestina Narh Enterprise, popularly known as Awonye Store was the most hit victim in the unfortunate incident.
A culvert measuring 10 feet wide – which stretches through Ho-Banko, housing the Ho Poly Clinic area – couldn’t contain the running water from upstream, hence, flooding the premises of the Asogli State in Bankoe.
The flood water later broke through the back of the textile shop situated at Civic Center – in the central business district of Ho – and washed away textiles and other goods.
The Ghana National Fire Service after preliminary investigations described the incident as a “disaster”, due to the extensive havoc caused by the flood.
Station Officer 2, Mawuli Kagbame, led a team of firemen from the Ho Municipal Command to help in retrieving items from the textile shop.
He reiterated a call by the community for the culvert to be expanded to be able to contain enough water.
The Shop Owner, Ella Ati, blamed the havoc on some major pipes which run across the culvert around the shop.
According to her, they began to experience flooding in the area after the Ghana Water Company channelled some of its lines across the culvert.
“I came to Ho when I was 16, I am now 54. We have never experienced any form of flooding until the pipes were stationed there.
“I am telling the authorities, we have already lost our properties, but what happens if a life is lost next time? They must address the situation”, she grieved.
Meanwhile, the Ho Municipal Assembly has directed residents to leave the affected areas to safer grounds to ensure their safety.
