Keta flood disaster: Residents cry for help as schoolchildren wade through water

Lawoshime, Mamime, and several surrounding communities within the Keta Municipality have been severely flooded following days of relentless torrential downpours, leaving scores of residents, including schoolchildren, farmers, and fisherfolk, stranded and distressed.

The floodwaters have overtaken homes, schools, and farmlands, forcing schoolchildren to wade through waist-deep water each morning just to access their classrooms.

Farming and fishing — the lifelines of the local economy — have been paralysed, with large swathes of farmland submerged and fishing equipment washed away or rendered unusable.

The situation has sparked urgent appeals from residents for immediate intervention.

“We are suffering here. The water is too much. Our children go to school walking through the flood. Some of them are falling sick. We need help,” lamented a resident of Mamime, who stood knee-deep in murky floodwater as she spoke.

Local authorities respond

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Keta, Mr. Wisdom Bondzie Seade, has assured the public that steps are being taken to mitigate the current crisis and bring relief to the affected communities.

“We are actively engaging with NADMO and other relevant agencies to assess the extent of the damage and respond accordingly. In the interim, we are providing additional canoes to ease movement across the affected areas and considering the distribution of relief items soon,” Mr. Seade stated.

He emphasised that while the situation remains challenging, authorities are working around the clock to mobilise resources for short-term and long-term solutions.

NADMO steps In

In a proactive move, the Keta Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Wonder Setsoafi, led a team of local volunteers and community leaders to clear blocked drains and water channels in an attempt to reduce the water levels and prevent further inundation.

“NADMO was on the ground even before the worst of the floods hit. We cleared major water outlets, and we’re continuing to monitor the situation. But we will need more support — this is a large-scale situation that requires a coordinated national response,” Mr. Setsoafi noted.

A humanitarian concern

With classrooms submerged and transportation routes impassable, local leaders are concerned about the long-term impact on education and livelihoods. Community schools report dwindling attendance, as parents fear for their children’s safety, while farmers face the real threat of losing an entire season’s harvest.

Health risks are also on the rise as stagnant floodwaters create ideal conditions for waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and malaria. Several residents have already reported symptoms, prompting calls for urgent medical outreach.

A plea to government and stakeholders

Community members, traditional authorities, and local leaders are calling on government agencies, civil society organisations, and benevolent institutions to turn their attention to the plight of these communities before the situation deteriorates further.

“We can’t do this alone,” a local assembly member from Lawoshime said. “We need food supplies, mosquito nets, clean drinking water, temporary shelters, and long-term flood control infrastructure. The people here feel forgotten.”

As the rains show no signs of abating and the water continues to rise, residents of Lawoshime, Mamime, and nearby villages wait anxiously, hoping that their voices will be heard and that help will arrive before the damage becomes irreversible.

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