President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that about 48,000 people have been rendered homeless by the recent floods that swept through parts of the Greater Accra Region following the heavy downpour on June 29.
Mahama disclosed this to the President of Sierra Leone and Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Julius Maada Bio, who visited Ghana to express solidarity with the country following the disaster.
Speaking to the media after bilateral engagements, President Mahama said, “This downpour was huge, and we estimate that about 48,000 people were rendered homeless by the downpour, and 12 are confirmed dead; seven are still unaccounted for. We have asked the military and the joint task force to immediately mobilise and bring things back as quickly as possible”.
He further disclosed that personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces had already begun clearing waterways, removing garbage and debris deposited across the city by the floods to restore normalcy.
“The Army has started to clear waterways, clear garbage and clear debris that was thrown all over the city by rainfall. And we expect that in a week or two things will normalise,” he added.
He further expressed appreciation to President Bio and the people of Sierra Leone for their message of solidarity and support.
“We appreciate his message of sympathy,” President Mahama said.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned the Ghanaian public not to accept, consume, sell, or distribute food recovered from floodwaters following the June 29 flooding in Accra.
According to the FDA, the warning follows viral videos of some unidentified individuals retrieving items, including food products, from floodwaters and other locations after the flooding on June 29.
The FDA asserted that certain individuals on social media are claiming they intend to distribute the recovered items to members of the public, including students.
In a food safety alert issued on Thursday, July 2, the FDA warned that it cannot vouch for the safety or quality of these products, as they may have been contaminated by floodwaters.
The FDA urged the public to avoid any food or regulated products recovered from floodwaters.
Parts of the FDA statement read, “The FDA cannot vouch for the safety or quality of these products, as they may have been contaminated by floodwaters and mishandling, which could pose a serious risk to public health”.
“Members of the public are therefore strongly advised not to accept, consume, sell, offer for sale, or distribute any food or other regulated products recovered from floodwaters,” the FDA said.
“The floods have, therefore, increased the risk of food and water contamination, creating conditions that can lead to foodborne illnesses and outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, etc.,” the statement said.
“Discard any food that has come into contact with floodwater. Drink only safe water. Boil water for at least five (5) minutes if its safety is uncertain,” the FDA said.
“The FDA strongly advises the public to be wary when purchasing food products and report any suspected sale or distribution of flood-damaged or unsafe food products to the FDA,” it said.
“The FDA is working closely with relevant agencies to monitor the safety of food supplies in affected communities and will take the necessary regulatory actions to protect public health,” the statement added.
“If you are not sure, don’t eat. Don’t purchase,” the FDA said.
@ghnow_ A man shares footage of the aftermath of Monday’s devastating floods in the Alajo area, as residents and property owners struggle to recover from their losses. GHNow is appealing to the public to join us in supporting these victims. We are currently collecting clothes, food items, toiletries, bedding, and other essential household items to help affected families rebuild their lives. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference. 📞 To donate or make enquiries, please contact 054 870 4918. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – Real Bevlin 💕❤️
