Less than 24 hours after a severe rainstorm struck two communities in the Sissala East District, another storm has caused significant damage in the Jirapa Municipality, felling trees and disrupting essential infrastructure.
One of the most dramatic incidents occurred on the premises of the St. Joseph’s Nursing Training School, where a century-old mahogany tree with large branches collapsed onto nearby shops. The fallen limbs also blocked the main road in front of the St. Joseph’s Credit Union, impeding both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The affected shops sustained damage, though the full extent is still being assessed.
Additionally, a mango tree on the same premises snapped at its base and fell on the Female Medical Ward of the adjacent St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital. Fortunately, the impact did not cause major structural damage to the building.
Elsewhere in the municipality, a dam under construction in Bogkpieryiri and sections of the electricity grid in Tugo also suffered storm-related damage. The downpour, which lasted less than an hour, left a trail of debris and disruption across multiple communities. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
In response, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Jirapa, Hon. Peter To-ang, led a team of volunteers to clear the blocked road, restore traffic flow, and begin the assessment of affected properties. He assured business owners of the assembly’s support, including the provision of materials to help restore damaged shops to operational status.
Hon. To-ang also announced that he would be touring other affected sites to assess the extent of the destruction and determine appropriate interventions. He noted that, in the absence of a fully operational National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) presence in the area, the Municipal Assembly has taken charge of emergency response efforts and is bearing the cost of the ongoing operations.
In a related development, casual workers at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital—speaking on condition of anonymity—expressed concern about the risk posed by other large, aging trees near critical hospital wards. They warned that if another storm strikes, the Female Medical Ward, Dental Unit, and Children’s Ward could suffer serious damage.
They appealed to authorities to take preventive action by assessing and managing the trees to avert potential future disasters.
