May 27, 2021
BY PROBLYN JOHN ALPHA
A heavy storm has destroyed over sixty–seven dwelling houses in the diamondiferous district of Kono in the Eastern region of Sierra leone.
The heavy storm also damaged the Saint Paul Roman Catholic Church and the Islamic Primary School thereby leaving hundreds of vulnerable residents including pregnant women, lactating mothers and children homeless.
It is also feared that properties worth millions of Leones have been damaged by the heavy storm in Gorama Chiefdom in Kono District.
According to some of the victims this is the first time such an intensive storm has raged in Ganama Town which led to the entire un-roofing of more than sixty seven houses including a church and school.
The head master of the Islamic Primary School in Ganama town, Abdul Razak Sogbandi, also noted that the storm has the potential to affect President Bio’s led government Free Quality Education at the school According to him the storm did not only damaged the entire school structure but the teaching and learning materials including record books.
On behalf of his people, especially the storm victims, the paramount chief of Gorama-Kono Chiefdom P.C Cyrus Ngebuva Kono-Bundor called on the central government and Humanitarian Organizations through the Kono District Council and the district disaster management committee for their prompt intervention in providing educational, medical, food, clothing and shelter.
The newly transferred Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Kono Regional Acting Manager, Bashiru Kargbo has said that deforestation is one of the key causes of the unfortunate storm destruction in Ganama town and other communities within Kono District and in the nation as a whole.
He however revealed that, if proper measures are not taken, such situation will be worsening in the near future.
Mr. Kargbo therefore urged all and sundry to avoid the excessive cutting down of trees for farming and mining purposes which he said is one among several human activities that causes environmental disaster in the communities.
He further disclosed plans by his office to collaborate with partners to embark on intensive awareness raising on environmental disaster prevention and control mechanisms for the overall safety of the citizenry.