Devastating rainstorm kills boy, injures four persons in Bongo

A number of persons are said to have sustained varied degrees of injury in a devastating rainstorm that swept through parts of the Upper East Region. 

Four persons in the Bongo district were reported injured in the wake of the storm.  

Several houses including educational and health facilities had their roof ripped-off whiles other affected building have developed serious cracks requiring urgent attention by concerned individuals and groups. 

On the interim, a rapid assessment team involving officials from the NADMO, the District Directorates of the GES and the Ghana Health Service among other key staff of the Bongo Assembly conducted a field inspection to assess the extent of damage caused to structures in the affected areas. Correspondent Isaac Asare has more for Radio Ghana. 

According to the Bongo District NADMO Officer, Alhaji Rafiu Tahiru, the injured who were sent to the Bongo District Hospital had since been treated and discharged. 

He disclosed that a ten-year-old boy, Ali Nyaaba, who developed a crack in the head and a broken left arm died as a result. 

Little Nyaaba, he narrated, was hit by a branch of a mango tree when he tried picking some mango fruits during the ravaging storm.  

Alhaji Tahiru said several households were greatly affected rendering hundreds homeless. According to him, about a hundred and 18 households had their roof ripped off. 

Affected communities include Sambolgo, Boko, Sikabisi, Agomo, Nabisi and Bungu. Thirteen schools and three CHPS compounds in Abokisi, Feo and Sikabisi also had their roofing completely ripped off.

The Balungu primary school, Sambolgo DA and Junior High school, Bungu primary, Namoo LA primary school and the Asakulsi primary schools were among the many educational institutions were badly hit in the fierce rainstorm. 

Mr Tahiru further noted that one cannot quantify the magnitude of the damage caused to affected households and facilities, stressing that health care delivery in affected health facilities is obstructed as valuable documents, medicines and other supplies got soaked in the rainstorm.

The NADMO officer, however stated that the field visit was timely as it afforded him to get first-hand information on the incident. He said his office was putting together a rapid assessment report which will be forwarded to the NADMO headquarters and the RCC for consideration and support. 

The Bongo District Directors of Health and Education who were part of the inspection team said the recent development has taken a toll on health service delivery and academic work, emphasizing the urgent need by stakeholders to attend to their plight. 

Mr Alexis Ayamdor is the DCE for Bongo. He told Radio Ghana that the unfortunate turn of event could only be described as one of the worst disasters that had ever struck the district in decades.



GBC