A rainstorm that swept through the Upper East Region in the evening of Monday, 10th March, 2025, has caused devastating effects to lives and properties in Zorkor, a suburb of Bongo District in the Upper East Region.
A visit by Xtrememediaonline’s Godfred Awindenaba to the village revealed that a lot of people have been displaced by the rainstorm as their roofs were destroyed.
Mr. Hamidu, a young man in his late thirties, lamented that more than half of the buildings in his house have been unroofed by the rainstorm.
“I was at the market when the rain started; the storm was so heavy that I could not pass through it to go home, only for me to get home in the night and meet my room scattered by the rain; my roof was taken away, including the wood, leaving my room flooded.”
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The story of Mr. Hamidu is one of many situations experienced in the communities, with others having more damning situations.
The Zorkor Senior High School has also been affected severely, as a number of the buildings have had their roofs taken off or damaged to some degree. Residents closer to the school, some past students, and some teachers of the school have all lamented on the state of the school after the rainstorm.
The head teacher of the school, Mr. Caesar, who spoke to Xtrememdiaonline, hinted that the devastation caused by the storm is not to be taken for granted, noting that he has written to the district director of education and the director general to give them first-hand information about the damage caused by the rainstorm.
“They have asked me to send pictures of the damage caused with a footnote attached. The director even told me that he has asked the district engineer to pay a visit to the school to see the level of the damage and how to fix it,” he added.
The St. Theresa Healthcare Center was also affected by the rainstorm. A renovated building that was meant to be used as a children’s ward was completely unroofed, while also affecting the nurses’ quarters.
One of the nurses who refused to disclose her identity pleaded with the authorities to quickly deal with the situation as it poses danger to the lives of patients who were receiving treatment.
In their own efforts to mitigate the effects, a carpenter was invited to assess the situation. At the time of Godfred’s visit, the carpenter was in the process of fixing the damage caused. Trips of sand were also conveyed by a tricycle for the same purposes.
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The Catholic Church, on the other hand, had their mission house fence wall broken down while a portion of the church roof got torn.
The whole village has also been plunged into darkness as several electric poles have been pulled down by the rainstorm. Several high-tension and low-tension poles have either been broken or pulled down, leading to a power cut, leaving the village to suffer darkness.
Awanyelum Epsona, a teacher and a provision shop owner, described the situation as a bad omen for businesses in the area, especially drinking spot owners and cold store owners.
According to the Chief of Zorkor-Kodorogo, Naba Victor Adindaa, the rain has instilled fear in the lives of people in the village, making them to live with fear of what will happen next in case another rainstorm happens.
“The damage caused by the rainstorm is severe; a lot of houses have been destroyed, schools have been destroyed, and electric poles have been broken. Trees and other properties have been destroyed as well, he stated.
As the clock ticks, businessmen and women are anxiously waiting and hoping that the electrical situation will be resolved in no time to put them back into business. Heads of institutions are equally hoping and praying that their facilities are put back into proper shape for effective operation. In the same way, chiefs, assembly members, and community leaders are also waiting and pleading with the Assembly and the appropriate authorities to hasten up for solutions to their worrisome experiences.