Rainstorm has hit some parts of Bawku and its environs, displacing about 850 people and destroying homes and other public property estimated to cost about GH¢500,000.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Bawku Municipality attributed the huge destruction of public structures, especially educational institutions, to shoddy works executed by government-hired contractors.
Numerous basic educational institutions and health facilities were also affected, while some classrooms of senior high and technical schools in Bawku were also not spared.
Besides, about 350 homes were destroyed in Bawku, while property, including shops, market sheds, garages, cars, among others, were affected.
Sulemana Musah, Deputy Chief Disaster Control Officer in-charge of the Bawku Municipal Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), confirmed the destruction of the numerous basic educational institutions and health facilities in the area.
He attributed the damage to shoddy works done by contractors and said on April 2, about 52 rooms and 300 people in the Baribari community were affected by the storm, while on April 30 of the same month, houses in communities, including Jantiga, Kpweliwiaga, Sabone-Gari, South and North Natinga, Sabone-Zongo, Hausa-Zongo and Gingande had their share of the disasters.
The Bawkzua, Patilmey, Pussom, and the Daduri communities, were severely affected, rendering most of the people homeless.
Mr Musah lamented that most of the trees that supported the houses against storms fell on houses, destroying them and other property.
He said even though the situation was worrying, no death and casualties were recorded in the municipality and its environs from the storm.
Mr Musah said NADMO was collaborating with the Bawku Municipal Assembly to secure roofing sheets, nails, plywood, bags cements, mattresses, buckets and blankets to help the affected victims.
The NADMO officer called on the people to take safety precautions by contracting qualified artisans to build their houses in order to avoid reoccurring disasters.
He said some of the private facilities affected used inferior building materials without any professional supervision and advised the public to go in for quality materials and engage professionals to help them with all types of construction business they undertake.
Alhaji Inusah Abubakar, Bawku Municipal Coordinating Director, expressed worry about the extent of the destruction in the area and said steps were being taken to avert similar disasters in future.
Alhaji Abubakar stated that the government was committed to ensuring the safety of residence in the Bawku area and urged the people to support the effort by ensuring that their activities lead to a disaster-free environment.
He called on the residents to plant trees around their homes as the area is located within a sub-desert reach.
GNA