“We lost everything we planted. Since the flood, we have to buy food every day. Life has become difficult.”
Biography
Gloria is a market woman and farmer who lives on the far side of the Volta River, selling produce in the Mepe market. Before the flood, her family lived off the land, farming cassava, maize, and vegetables. She represents the voice of rural women who have been cut off from urban support and trade because of the disaster.
Before the flood
Gloria and her family relied on their farmland and the market trade. They cultivated crops and sold part of the harvest at the Mepe market, ensuring both food and income.
During the flood
When the flood came, her farmland was completely submerged. Access to the market became impossible as water and mud blocked movement. For nearly two months she could not sell anything, and transportation between the riverbanks stopped.
After the flood
Her family’s crops were gone, forcing her to buy food daily instead of farming. Gloria explained that most people on her side of the river received no relief support and felt abandoned. Community members had to depend on each other and small savings to survive.
Thought's about the future
Gloria wishes for better management of dam spillage and financial support so she can return to farming. She believes that without government attention, people in her area will continue to suffer the long-term effects of the flood.
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Name:
Gloria -
Role:
market vendor -
Age:
40 -
Town:
Mepe -
Interview Date:
2025-03-11