By Rebecca Ekpe
The Metropolitan Roman Catholic Arch-Bishop of Accra, the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie has launched an appeal to send help to the victims devastated by floods in the Volta and Eastern Regions following the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.
The support is for the people of Mepe, Battor, Vume and Asutuare.
Relief items including medical supplies for the vulnerable, food, clothing and water can be sent to the following destinations;
Tema Deanery – Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Community One Tema.
Ashaiman Deanery – Blessed Clementina Parish, Ashaiman.
Madina Deanery – Queen of Peace Parish, Madina.
Osu Deanery – Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka.
Kpehe Deanery – St Paul, Kpehe.
Kaneshie Deanery – St Theresa Catholic Church, Kpehe.
Kaneshie Deanery – St. Alphonse, Odumase
Mamprobi Deanery – St John the Baptist, Odorkor Parish,
Furthermore, cash donations are also being received via the CARITAS network. Caritas Ghana is a charity organization of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and operates under the National Catholic Secretariat, Social Development, Livelihood promotion, Social services, Promotion of Social and Environmental Justice, Public Policy Advocacy, Promotion of Pro-poor policies and Action Research.
The Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie launched the appeal for help to the flood victims, after he commissioned a fact-finding visit to the affected areas which was led by Rev. Fr. Newman Tettehfio.
Fr. Tettehfio reported that the situation was quite devastating as many houses are submerged, with socio-economic activities at a stand-still for people whose lives and livelihoods are built around the river economy.
‘’Accessing the extent of damage of the flood, you can see people’s roofs and now in the boat riding, everything is in the water and seeing this nice house, the whole house is in water. These nice houses are all in water, you can see a whole shop in water as well as the roof too. Look at this house, you can see just the roof, very devastating’’, narrates the very Rev. Fr. Tettehfio.
He was joined by the Rev Fr. Mathias King of the Battor Parish, and some Leadership of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), who joined to assess the situation on the ground and validate the safety of their members.
Describing the level of devastation, Rev. Fr. Tettehfio said ‘’we are in the boat taking a ride to assess the extent of the damage and all the houses are in the water. You can just see this house, look at it as the water has come to the lintel level’’, he narrated in a video.
The Catholic Church called for support in a situation that has devastated families, young and old, rich and poor, as well as the Church folks. Fr. Tettehfio said that Philanthropy should touch the hearts of people to give towards a worthy goal of saving lives.
‘’We want to take this opportunity to call on all well-wishers to come to the aid of the people of Mepe and the other towns and villages around Mepe, affected by the floods. This very house is one of the family houses of one of our reverend sister’s, Reverend Antoinette HDR. Their house is also affected by the flood’’, Fr. Tettehfio stated.
26,000 persons are reported to be displaced as the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) is also mobilizing relief to affected Communities.
The Volta River Authority (VRA) has been explaining that the spillage necessary to save the Dam, adding that the Akosombo Dam was currently receiving more than 200 percent more water this October than what was experienced in October 2022 and in the previous years.