DISEC Conducts Emergency Assessment of Afram Plains Flooding, Urges Central Government Action to Avert Looming Crisis

In response to the escalating effects of seasonal rainfall and the consequent overflow of the Afram River, the District Security Council (DISEC) carried out an urgent inspection of the submerged Aframso bridge on Tuesday, 7th July 2026. This critical infrastructure, which serves as the only lifeline connecting over thirty thousand residents across communities including Birem, Balana, Kyeiase, Kroduase, Kyekyebon, and Aframso, has once again succumbed to perennial flooding; a recurring tragedy that intensifies with every rainy season.

The current situation has brought daily life to a standstill, severing access to essential services and paralyzing the movement of people and goods between the river's two banks. Alarming reports of maternal fatalities, widespread destruction of farmlands and crops, halted educational activities, and the inability to transport agricultural produce to market centres in the district capital underscore the human and economic toll of this persistent disaster. For the affected communities, this is not merely an inconvenience but a fight for survival.

Speaking on behalf of traditional leadership and the wider community, Nana Nkrumah Adassah, Sanahene of Aframso, painted a vivid picture of the community's anguish and called passionately on the central government to intervene decisively. He reiterated the urgent plea for the construction of a durable bridge across the river, alongside the development of the Nsuta-Birem road, a critical infrastructure that would restore hope, enhance livelihoods, and unlock the socio-economic potential of the Afram Plains.

In his address, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Somuah, traced the origins of this man-made crisis to the 2016 rechanneling of the river during the construction of a high-lift pumping station under the 3K Water Project; a development that inadvertently altered the river's natural flow and exacerbated flooding in the area. He affirmed that the Assembly has over the years explored various interventions, yet emphasized that a lasting solution now demands urgent financial and technical support from the central government to avert future catastrophes.

He also noted that the inspection was to evaluate the district's disaster preparedness and strengthen response mechanisms to mitigate the impact of flooding across all vulnerable communities.

Beyond the flood assessment, DISEC extended its oversight to monitor the progress of the ongoing construction of the new Aframso Health Centre, as well as an abandoned police post at Jeduako. At the health facility, the DCE engaged with staff and patients, offering reassurance of the government’s commitment to ensuring prompt completion and operationalization of the project. He also assured them on the renovation of staff quarters, recognizing the critical need to support health workers in delivering uninterrupted care.

Regarding the abandoned police post, the Hon. DCE declared the Assembly's resolve to adopt the structure as a legacy project, with plans to expand it into a fully operational police station that would serve Jeduako and its surrounding communities.