The military has stepped in to provide immediate counselling services to victims of the recent tidal wave invasions at Agavedzi, Sallakope, and Amutinu in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.
The exercise, which began last Thursday, is being carried out by clinical psychologists from the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho.
This was revealed when the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, visited the flood-hit communities to present additional relief items to the victims.
“The people are traumatised by the devastation, and they need assistance to recover,” he said.
Concerns Over Exhuming Bodies
Meanwhile, the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) has engaged the Ketu South Health Directorate to educate residents on the dangers of exhuming the bodies of their deceased relatives for reburial.
Some residents have retrieved corpses and coffins from the floods for reburial on drier land, raising health concerns. The health directorate has since commenced a health screening exercise in the affected communities.
Abandoned Relocation Project
During his visit, Mr. Gunu toured the relocation site, where a housing project for flood victims—sponsored by Ghana Gas—has stalled.
He pledged to follow up with Ghana Gas to ensure the project is revived.
“If the contractor fails to return to the project site, the GH¢2 million contract will be terminated and re-awarded,” he stated.
He further blamed the current challenges in the area on what he described as eight years of neglect under the previous government.
A flood scene at Agavedzi
Extent of Damage
A total of 101 households have been affected by the tidal waves, according to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
Paschal Agbagba, NADMO officer in charge of the Regional Emergency Operations Centre, reported that 519 people have been displaced:
- 318 from 49 households in Amutinu
- 172 from 31 households in Sallakope
- 129 from 21 completely destroyed houses in Agavedzi
Currently, the tidal waves remain high, with seawater crossing the Denu-Keta Road and flooding nearby communities and the lagoon.
Relief Efforts
NADMO has provided relief items, including bags of rice, cooking oil, soap, mosquito nets, and used clothing. The donations also included plastic cups, plates, buckets, and basins to support the affected families.