By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Some junior officers at the Obuasi Local Prisons in the Ashanti region have been displaced by floods following last Wednesday evening’s torrential rains.
The Junior Officers’ Barracks was part of the properties that were hard hit by floods that are fast becoming the bane of the Obuasi municipality and its environs.
Obuasi, now demarcated into a Municipality, Obuasi East and West districts is also at the mercy of climate change that has unpredictable weather patterns as one of its features.
This situation appears compounded by the low-lying topography of the mining community encircled by highlands making it highly susceptible to flooding from the rains.
In recent times, Obuasi has been experiencing flooding but the level of last Wednesday’s occurrence following hours of heavy downpour was the first of its nature, according to NADMO, the Municipal Assembly, and others.
Many of the local communities including Bidiem and Kunka saw the damage as severest.
Information from the local Assembly revealed that the floods trapped about 10 residents at various suburbs but they were rescued by a joint team of NADMO, Fire Service and Anglogold Ashanti Rescue Team.
Among those who were the hardest hit were staff at the Obuasi Local Prisons Barracks. The situation was so severe that some junior officers, including new recruits, had to put up temporarily at their Canteen.
Their rooms were heavily flooded and they had to scoop the flood waters with any available container. Unfortunately, they still could not salvage most of their personal effects.
The Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Daniel Quaye, after joining the Commanding Officer to familiarize themselves with the impact of the damage caused by the floods at the Barracks, empathized with the affected junior officers.
He told GBCNews that even though the Barracks had experienced the problem before, last Wednesday’s situation was the worst and pledged the support of the Prisons Administration to those affected.
He said a formal report has already been sent to the National Headquarters for consideration.
When contacted, the Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, Elijah Adansi Bonah also empathized with those affected.
He said despite its insufficient funds, the Municipal Assembly is constructing storm drainage systems to permanently resolve what is fast becoming an annual canker of the area.
Touching specifically on the flooding at the Local Prison Barracks, Mr. Adansi Bonah noted that the most sustainable solution is to relocate the facility from its present location since it is not only low lying geographically but it is now in the central business district which does not auger well for the managers of the correctional facility.
