A mudslide triggered by a downpour has left a trail of destruction at Adaklu-Helekpe in the Volta Region, burying homes, vehicles, and livestock after debris rolled down from the slopes of the Adaklu Mountain on Wednesday, May 21.
At least five houses and nine vehicles were engulfed in the disaster, while dozens of livestock, including about 50 goats, were killed. Several residents have also been displaced as sections of the community remain covered in mud and debris.
Residents say the slide came with little warning, as rocks and soil cascaded down the mountain with force, sweeping through homes and farmlands within minutes. Some narrowly escaped, describing the incident as terrifying and sudden.
Two people trapped in the debris were rescued by community members before personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service arrived at the scene.
The Volta Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Joseph Tetteh Freeman, confirmed that no fatalities were recorded. He noted, however, that the scale of destruction required urgent safety measures and ordered residents living in the affected zone to evacuate immediately.
He further advised that the area should remain unoccupied for at least a week to allow geo-technical engineers to assess the stability of the mountain and determine the risk of further slides.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has urged residents to avoid farming activities and deforestation along the mountain slopes, warning that such practices weaken the terrain and increase vulnerability during heavy rains.
“We must desist from cultivating close to the mountain and cutting down trees because these activities weaken the environment and expose the community to danger, especially during the rainy season,” he stated.
Volta Regional Minister James Gunu also cautioned that the affected location remains unsafe, stressing that movement in the area should be restricted as assessments continue.
“This place is now a security zone and the safety of people coming here is not guaranteed, so caution should be taken,” he said.
Authorities are expected to carry out further technical evaluations in the coming days as efforts intensify to prevent a recurrence and safeguard surrounding communities.
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