BY Grace Zigah
What began as days of unrelenting rainfall has now turned into a full-blown humanitarian emergency for several communities within the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region.
Entire neighbourhoods in Lawoshime, Mamime, and adjoining settlements have been submerged, leaving residents trapped, livelihoods destroyed, and schoolchildren forced to wade through waist-deep waters just to attend classes.
The scenes emerging from Keta are distressing. Families have been displaced, and farms and fishing tools—the backbone of the local economy—have been washed away or rendered unusable.
Residents now find themselves cut off from basic services, and local leaders are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a slow and inadequate response.
Floodwaters Threaten Education and Health
One of the most alarming consequences of the flood has been its impact on children.
With schools partially submerged and roadways impassable, many pupils are forced to trek through stagnant waters each morning.
Residents report that several schoolchildren have fallen ill due to repeated exposure to dirty water.
“We are really suffering here,” said a distraught resident of Mamime, standing knee-deep in water. “Some of our children are coughing, others are developing rashes. How long can this go on?”
Education officials in the area report a sharp drop in school attendance.
Teachers worry that if the situation persists, entire academic terms could be disrupted.
Farming and Fishing in Ruin
The economic toll is just as severe. Keta’s communities rely heavily on farming and fishing for survival.
But floodwaters have swallowed farmlands, while fishing nets, canoes, and gear have either been destroyed or swept away.
Local farmer groups estimate that over 70% of crops planted in the area—mostly maize, cassava, and vegetables—have been lost to the floods, dealing a severe blow to household incomes.
Keta’s Municipal Chief Executive, Wisdom Bondzie Seade, acknowledged the gravity of the disaster and said the assembly is working closely with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other government agencies to bring relief to affected areas.
“We’ve deployed more canoes to help people move across flood zones, and we’re assessing the damage in order to begin distribution of relief items,” Seade stated.
“This is a difficult time, but we are committed to helping our people.”
He also noted that the assembly is exploring long-term infrastructure plans to prevent future flood episodes, including drainage expansions and permanent resettlement options for residents living in high-risk zones.
NADMO Appeals for National Support
The Keta Municipal NADMO Director, Mr. Wonder Setsoafi, disclosed that his team had started clearing blocked drainage systems and natural water outlets ahead of the worst flooding, but the intensity of the rain overwhelmed their efforts.
“We’ve been on the ground from the beginning,” he said. “We managed to open major channels to allow water to flow, but the scale of this disaster requires more than just local action. We are appealing to the national government, NGOs, and donors to step in immediately.”
NADMO is also monitoring for potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria. Mobile health teams may be deployed if conditions worsen.
Community Voices: “We Feel Abandoned”
In the affected communities, frustration is mounting. Local leaders and assembly members say help has been slow in coming, and residents feel forgotten by both regional and national authorities.
“This has been going on for days,” said an assembly member from Lawoshime.
“What we need right now are food supplies, clean water, mosquito nets, and emergency shelters. And moving forward, we need flood control systems, not just temporary fixes.”
