The flooding was expected by residents because most gutters within the Tamale metropolis and the Sagnarigu municipality are choked with detritus.
Frustrated and angry residents blamed the perennial flooding on the ineptitude of city authorities and their glaring failure to do something substantive to prevent floods. They did not understand why building permits are issued out without a proper assessment of the area.
At the Nyankpala road, between Sheshegu and Kasaligu stretch, the road was blocked by running water and motorists out of fear for their lives waited several minutes to avoid being swept away by the water.
Residents of Sagnarigu whose houses were affected put the blame on the door step of the Sagnarigu municipal assembly who they said allowed the location of two fuel stations in the area.
Residents pointed to two bridges they said made the area vulnerable to floods. It took the intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service to save motorists Thursday afternoon. When Zaa News got to the scene, affected residents were seen complaining bitterly to officials of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) demanding immediate action to save innocent lives.
The Sagnarigu municipal NADMO Director, Mr Sulemana Abukari Damba told Zaa News the situation was unbearable and very serious.
“Our motive when we arrived was to assist fire service personnel to rescue people before we take stock of what happened,” he said, adding that NADMO will liaise with town and country planning to deal with structures obstructing running waters.
“The work is not for NADMO alone. People putting up fuel stations are very powerful people who are well connected to politicians and it is making our work very difficult,” an official who want to remain anonymous lamented . “This situation need other state agencies intervention support,” she added.
The Assembly man for Choggu electoral area Mr. Alhassan Osman who is also supervises the Sheshigu electoral area was not happy that the owners of a fuel station under construction didn’t heed his earlier advice.
He told Zaa news he advised the owners to expand the bridges closer to the station to enable free flow of water but they refused.
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