Ho, the regional capital of Volta, was submerged in floods last Saturday, after a downpour that was the heaviest in three decades.
The rain, which lasted for six hours, measured 189.2 millimetres, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The second highest rainfall recorded in Ho during the period was 152.2 millimetres in 2006.
The floods affected several areas, including Ho-Bankoe, Ho-Donokodzi, Ho Barracks-New Town, Ho-Adzimakope, and Ho-Powerhouse. More than 1,000 people were displaced and many properties were damaged.
The EPA and the Ho District Meteorological Office attributed the floods to choked and narrow drains, as well as structures built on waterways.
The EPA Regional Director, Hope Smith Lomotey, warned that the people living in low-lying areas along water courses must relocate to higher grounds as soon as possible, as more rains were expected in the coming days.
He also urged the residents to respect the environment and dispose of their rubbish properly to avoid blocking the gutters.
He said the final destination of flowing water was the sea and once its course was blocked the result was often disastrous.
“We must all respect the environment to avoid a repetition of this kind of horror in future,” he said.
The Ho Central MP, Benjamin Kpodo, blamed the Ho Municipal Assembly for failing to enforce its environmental by-laws and building regulations.
He said the assembly was negligent in allowing people to build on waterways and not clearing the drains regularly.
He called on the assembly to take immediate action to prevent further floods in the area.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is still assessing the damage caused by the floods and providing relief to the affected people.