Areas largely affected by the floods include Twifo Praso, Newyork, New Toifoi, Old Prado, Cocoase, Twansukoda, Arab area and Bankyease.

Some affected residents have attributed the development to the heavy downpour on last Sunday and illegal mining activities in the river.

The flood is reported to have destroyed properties running into hundreds of cedis. No life was however lost.

The Public Relations Officer of the Central Regional Police, Irene Oppong said so far, 35 houses have been affected by the flood.

“The Police and NADMO are still monitoring situations in the affected towns. Currently, there is no one to rescue as all the affected persons managed to leave their rooms.”

She noted that the police will hold an emergency District Security Committee meeting tomorrow to assess the situation.

She said some of the affected residents were now lodging with relatives.

Disaster assessment and registration of victims are currently underway.

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By: Naa Kwaamah Siaw-Marfo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to M. Mensah, it was yet another tragedy that should not have claimed the lives of more than 150 victims on that day.

“Many have described the disaster as force majeure or an act of God, but if one carefully looks at all the circumstances surrounding the disaster of 3rd June 2015, many questions can be asked about what should have been done from a governance perspective to minimise potential fatalities,” Mensah said.

The disaster of that fatal day was as a result of hours of downpour compounded by an explosion from a fuel station at the Kwame Nkrumah circle.

It is believed that improper planning of settlement in Accra, choked gutters and a few other human factors contributed to the flooding of the capital city.

“The biggest cause of the disaster was the explosion of the petrol station and the question of whether the station was complying with regulations, and in fact if the government had ensured that there was indeed compliance through inspections should be asked,” Mensah pointed out.

Herbert Mensah is well known for his annual remembrance of the 9th May 2001 Accra Sports Stadium Disaster that claimed the lives of 126 football fans.

At the time of that disaster, Mr. Mensah was the Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko football club, who were playing their rival, Accra Hearts of Oak.

“The annual ‘May 9th Remembered’ events was initiated by a group of concerned people, and it is supported regularly by some organisations such as Interplast, the Gino Brands, Melcom, Sunda International, Golden Tulip and others.

That remembrance is in fact symbolic of remembering all such disasters in Ghana,” Mr. Mensah said.

Mr. Mensah has appealed to the government that May 9th should be declared a national day of observance in memory of the victims of all disasters in Ghana.

“Such a day of observance will not only ensure that we remember the fallen victims of disasters such as May 9 and June 3, but that all in Ghana can reflect on the critical issue of responsible behaviour and governance. Irresponsibilities such as those exhibited by our authorities on both occasions cost lives; and even the death of one person due to that is totally unacceptable,” Mensah said.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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May 9 disaster occurred during a match between Ghana’s two most successful football teams, Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club, and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Trouble had been anticipated, and extra security measures had been taken. The home side scored two late goals to defeat Kotoko 2–1, which led to disappointed Kotoko fans throwing plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch.

The response to this crowd disturbance from the police was to fire tear gas into the crowd. Panic ensued, resulting in a stampede that led to the deaths from compressive asphyxia of 126 people.

Since that tragic day in 2001, a group of philanthropists under the leadership of Herbert Mensah, supported by various individuals and companies in Ghana, and religiously remembered the day with a series of events.

According to Mensah, “the message of May 9th is both a call for responsibility and a call to make the most of every day that God has given you.”

The 2017 theme of “Embrace the Day” was conceived from the stark reality of that dark and tragic day of 9 May 2001 when 126 young football fans did not plan to die that day. “We can’t predict the future and do not know what tomorrow holds for us. May 9th Remembered is a call for responsibility to all, but it is also a call to embrace every day and use the talents God has given us to create a better future for the generations that will follow us,” Mensah said.

The May 9th Remembered programme annually include visits to families of the victims of the disaster to enquire about their well-being, and to provide them with a token of goodwill through the donation of foodstuff sponsored by corporate Ghana.

In one of the highlights of the 2017 May 9th Remembered activities, Mr. Mensah and a section of the families of the victims of May 9th were invited to the Manhyia Palace by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as part of his birthday celebrations.

In his remarks at the Manhyia Palace, Mr. Mensah lauded the Asantehene for his key roles in the transformation of sports in the country.

Mr. Mensah commended Otumfuo for his wise counsel to him (Herbert) on the day that the May 9 stadium disaster occurred. “I remember that day, Otumfuo was the first person that I called and he told me to be courageous”, the ex-Kotoko chairman told the gathering.

The 2017 May 9th Remembered events also included a visit to the Central Mosque in Kumasi where the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haruun, led prayers that also asked Allah to bless and protect Mensah and all those who selflessly and regularly, without fail, remember and celebrate that tragic day 16 years ago.

During the visit to the Central Mosque, Mensah and his delegation also contributed foodstuff to be used for the needy.

The main activity of the annual May 9th Remembered events has always been a street walk through the main streets of Kumasi that was joined by thousands of people.
The 2017 Kumasi Street Walk again saw excitement when thousands joined Mensah and his delegation to “Embrace the Day.”

In an address to the media, Mr. Mensah said that the annual May 9th events will always be part of his agenda and that it would not have been possible without the support of other philanthropists and especially corporate bodies in Ghana who never fail to extend a helping hand.

“I will neglect my duty if I do not mention and thank the likes of Interplast, Inesfly, Golden Tulip, Sunda International, the Gina and Pomo brands, Melcom, and many others who have made this important remembrance possible year after year,” Mensah said.

May 9th Cup

Mensah also introduced an annual football competition dubbed the “May 9th Cup” in 2016, and the final match, that was enjoyed by thousands, took place in Kumasi on Saturday 6 May 2017.

Sixteen teams participated in the competition and the 2017 “May 9th Cup” was won by Aboabo Number One who beat Kantudu 2 to 0.

Both teams received gold and silver medals while Aboabo Number One lifted the Cup to great excitement by the team and spectators.

The Baribari Chief presented the winner’s trophy while the runner-up trophy was presented by the Kantoshi Chief. Also present was the Asawasi District Manager of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The 2017 May 9th Remembered programme will be continued on May 9th in Accra with the presentation of foodstuff in Accra to families of the deceased from both Accra and Kumasi.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Three people died in North Carolina, said Governor Pat McCrory, who called Matthew “a very, very serious” storm.

In Georgia, three people died, including a wheelchair user after two trees fell on his home. Four people were earlier killed in Florida.

Matthew has been the most powerful storm to make US landfall in more than a decade.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, and more than a million left without power.

The storm also brought heavy flooding to the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina.

Matthew has already caused nearly 900 deaths in Haiti and four in the Dominican Republic as it travelled northwards over the past few days.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has downgraded Matthew to a Category One hurricane, with maximum sustained winds having decreased to 75mph (120km/h).

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley warned people to stay in shelters and not to try to go back home over the weekend.

“Between downed power lines and trees, and then just unsafe structures – bridges, all of those things.

Officials said emergency responders have carried out multiple water rescues from cars and homes.

The NHC said: “The combination of a dangerous storm surge, the tide, and large and destructive waves will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.”

Nearly 1.6m homes and businesses in the south-east of the US were left without power.

Hurricane Matthew first made landfall in in the US in South Carolina but its edges had previously battered the coasts of Florida and Georgia.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), which is the UN’s weather agency, had warned that the hurricane would remain dangerous regardless of whether or not it made landfall in the US.

Parts of the city of Savannah, Georgia have been submerged in several feet (one foot = 30cm) of water.

Hurricane Matthew left up to 90% of some parts of Haiti destroyed, officials say.

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Source: BBC

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