Kozie interacting with some of the flood victims
The 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Asaa Manu, affectionately known as ‘Kozie’, has paid a visit to communities in the constituencies that were severely affected by the devastating floods last Sunday.
The floods, which followed hours of heavy rainfall, claimed the lives of at least four people, including a four-year-old girl, and caused significant damage to homes, shops, vehicles, and public infrastructure.
In response, Kozie visited the affected areas on Tuesday to sympathise with residents, assess the extent of damage, and engage with relevant agencies including the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
“This is not just a natural disaster; it is a wake-up call,” Kozie said, adding, “We need to act urgently to correct the engineering and planning mistakes that have contributed to this tragedy. The lives and livelihoods lost here cannot go in vain.”
Her visit began at Nanakrom, where she met families whose homes were submerged by the floods. She visited the grieving family of young Hajara, the four-year-old girl who tragically lost her life. Emotions ran high as she comforted the family and pledged her support.
“This is one of the hardest moments I’ve faced,” Kozie said. “No child should have to die because of poor planning and drainage. As a mother, I feel this loss deeply, and I want to assure this family and the entire community that I will do everything within my power to fight for reforms.”
In Lakeside, she walked through flood-ravaged homes and businesses, interacting with residents and small-scale business owners.
One of the victims of the flood, a baker, said the flood nearly wiped out everything she worked for, but found hope as a result of the former parliamentary candidate’s visit.
However, despite the devastation, the mood among residents lifted slightly as Kozie assured them of continued support and follow-up action.
“This is my home too. I will continue to visit, listen, and advocate. Together, we can build a safer Adentan, one that is prepared for the future, not crippled by it,” she said.
Kozie, who towards the raining season funded the construction of some drainage systems in Lakeside, was surprised to know that but for the drain she constructed, the devastation would have been worse.
Residents of the affected areas blamed poor engineering practices, particularly the decision to channel multiple drains into a single outlet as a major factor behind the flooding, and also accused road contractors of abandoning drainage works halfway as well as failing to consider the volume of runoff from nearby highlands like Oyarifa, Katamanso, and surrounding areas.
Akosua Asaa Manu called on the Municipal Assembly, the Ministry of Works and Housing, and other stakeholders to collaborate on an urgent drainage improvement plan, especially in growing peri-urban areas like Nanakrom and Lakeside.