By Robert Hackman, the Gomoa East District Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has attributed the recent flooding, which wreaked havoc on the Okyereko portion of the Accra-Winneba highway and inundated many homes, to a contractor’s endeavor to redirect the river’s course. This diversion overwhelmed a small bridge, exacerbating the situation.
He clarified that the flood’s severity was compounded by the substantial volume of water flowing into the bridge, worsened by the obstruction of another bridge by a contractor.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that some traditional leaders attribute the incident to the contractor’s omission of pouring libation before commencing the project, as recommended by certain residents.
The situation unfolded when a contractor, undertaking construction work on the Kasoa-Cape Coast highway, obstructed the primary bridge spanning the Ayensu River in the Gomoa East District last Wednesday.
The Ayensu River, among the largest in the Central Region, originates from the Eastern Region and intersects the Kasoa-Cape Coast Highway at Gomoa Okyereko before emptying into the sea.
The contractor’s action aimed to replace the existing bridge with a modern structure capable of accommodating the river’s water volume.
In an interview with Joy News, Mr. Hackman stated, “Currently, I’m at the scene, and it is an eyesore. Yes, it is true that 200 houses are submerged, and three have collapsed. Thank God no one has been hurt.”
He mentioned that those impacted by the flood are temporarily seeking refuge at the Church of Pentecost in Gomoa.
Mr. Hackman elucidated that the flooding occurred due to the convergence of three rivers, which the contractor redirected into a single channel.
He mentioned that those impacted by the flood are currently finding temporary shelter at the Church of Pentecost in Gomoa.
Mr. Hackman elaborated that the flood stemmed from the merging of three rivers, which the contractor redirected into a single channel.
“And I think these three rivers per what people are saying and the Nananom [Traditional leaders] are saying, the rivers don’t like each other and so that has created this flooding.”
He observed that there had been no rainfall in Gomoa for the past three days. The contractor responsible for blocking the road was advised to perform a libation ritual at the confluence of the three rivers to avert such occurrences, yet this advice was not heeded.
He mentioned that local leaders, including traditional leaders and the chief priest, are now on-site and awaiting guidance on performing the libation ceremony.
Mr. Hackman clarified that the bridge obstructed by the contractor is distinct from the one contributing to the current flooding.
“The bridge that caved in is an old bridge, the bridges here are two, and we have the main Ayenso bridge and that of the small one, so the contractor diverted the main bridge into the smaller bridge.”
Mr. Hackman has urged the contractor to remove the obstruction from the bridge, enabling the river to flow through both structures. This measure is expected to aid in alleviating the flooding situation.
