Mahama donates to Aboabo flood victims, promises reconstruction of bridge

President John Dramani Mahama has assured residents of Aboabo, a suburb of Kumasi, that  the Aboabo bridge would soon be reconstructed  in a bid to tackle perennial flooding in the area.

The president’s assurance came just two days after some angry residents of Aboabo demonstrated and requested for the construction of a new  bridge.

Last Saturday’s downpour killed one person and caused destruction to homes and property running into thousands of cedis. The most affected area was the Aboabo community where most homes were submerged by the rains displacing hundreds of people.

The streets in the area also got flooded making it completely impassable. Residents had to wait for several hours before they managed to access the road.

They blamed the constant flooding on a poorly constructed drainage system and a bridge. The residents, on Sunday morning, staged a demonstration to express their displeasure about the situation.

Responding to their concerns, President John Dramani Mahama assured them the bridge would be reconstructed to allow the free flow of water.

The Ashanti Regional Zongo Chief, Sultan Alhaji Umar Farouk, thanked the President for his swift intervention. He was hopeful the reconstruction of the bridge would prevent further flooding in the area.

The President was in the area to sympathize with Saturday’s flood victims. He was hugely welcomed by the Aboabo residents and some zongo chiefs.

President Mahama presented some relief items including bags of rice, cooking oil, and mattresses among others to be distributed to the flood victims.

The President also visited Anloga junction, another Kumasi suburb, and sympathized with shop owners who were also affected by the flood. He assured them of expansion of the drainage system to prevent any future disaster.

The President was in the company of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Peter Anarfi Mensah, the Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu and some other government officials.

By: Ibrahim Abubakar/editors.3news.com/Ghana