Parts of Duori, a suburb of Wa in the Upper West Region recorded incidents of flooding following a downpour on the dawn of Saturday, 29 June, 2024. Flood waters submerged several homes.
A torrential downpour, accompanied by thunderstorms, began around midnight and continued for nearly four hours, submerging parts of the community.
The residents, caught off guard by the intensity of the rainfall, were forced to evacuate their homes, seeking refuge on higher grounds and with neighbours in less affected areas.
The floodwaters, rising swiftly, turned living rooms into wading pools and submerged possessions under murky water.
Mr Musah, a resident of Duori, was seen trudging through the water, searching for his lost poultry birds. In an interview with Upperwestnews.com, he expressed shock and frustration at the unprecedented disaster.
“I’ve lived here for a long time, and we’ve never experienced anything like this,” he lamented. “The new road construction is to blame. I’ve previously discussed with the contractor about the need for culverts to channel the water, but nothing has been done.”
The construction of a new road linking Duori to other parts of the municipality, intended to enhance local development, has now come under scrutiny.
Residents believe that the failure to incorporate adequate drainage systems into the road design has exacerbated the flooding.
Mr. Ibrahim Zakaria, the assembly member for the area, echoed these concerns. “We appreciate the new road, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of our homes and safety,” he stated.
“The contractor must understand and address our concerns. Plans are already in motion to drain the water and restore access to homes, but this is a temporary solution.”
Zakaria further appealed to the Wa Municipal Assembly to implement interim measures to alleviate the immediate crisis while pushing for long-term solutions.
“The assembly and the contractor need to prioritize the construction of culverts. This will allow water to flow freely and prevent future occurrences of such disasters,” he emphasized.
Upperwestnews.com also spoke with Madam Amina, a mother of three, who described the harrowing experience of evacuating her children in the middle of the night. “It was terrifying. The water was rising so fast, and we had to get out before it was too late,” she recounted. “We are staying with relatives now, but we need a permanent solution. This cannot happen again.”
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the preparedness of the municipality for extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly common due to climate change.
Report by Alhassan Erasung Tajudeen
Experts argue that infrastructure projects must be designed with resilience in mind, considering the local geography and potential environmental impacts.
