The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has moved to avert an impending flood disaster in the Northern Region following plans of authorities in Burkina Faso to open flood gates of their Bagre dam.
In a bid to deal with the problem, the Organizations has relocated its Headquarters from Accra to the Northern Region to undertake an operation codenamed “operation Thunderbolt 2017.”
Recently, the area suffered severe flooding that left two persons dead and the property worth tens of thousands of cedis destroyed. The decision follows recent flooding which destroyed homes, livestock, feeder roads and farmlands in some parts of the region.
Some roads and farmlands in the Region were also destroyed.
NADMO’s National Coordinator, Nana Agyemang Prempeh made the announcement at a news briefing in Tamale.
He said a special task-force is to embark on a three-month intensive public education ahead of the spillage of the Bagre Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
He admitted that NADMO was overwhelmed by the recent flooding in six districts of the Northern Region, hence the move to curtail another disaster during the Bagre Dam spillage.
According to him, NADMO will set up two makeshift offices at Walewale in the Northern Region and another one in the Upper West Regional capital Wa.
Nana Agyemang Prempeh reiterated government’s resolve to demolish unauthorized structures on waterways across the country.
He said NADMO will henceforth be giving permits to private developers as means of preventing construction on waterways.
He further assured victims of the recent flooding of fair distribution of the relief items saying, “We will not divert the relief items for our personal gains.”
The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed recounted the devastation caused by the floods and assured the victims of government’s commitment to alleviating their plight.
He said several acres of farmlands under the government’s planting for food and jobs program were washed.
Salifu Saeed tasked civil engineers in the region to profile the cut-off road networks and submit their report for government’s rapid response.
He commended the law enforcement agencies for their rescue mission and thereby called for philanthropic support to augment NADMO’s intervention.
Meanwhile, NADMO has so far distributed relief items to some flood victims in communities within the Tamale Metropolitan Area.
Background
Two persons were confirmed dead following floods which affected some communities in the Tamale Metropolis, July 25, 2017.
Heavy rain, which lasted for two hours, displaced some residents of Gumani, Gumbihini, Kanvili Tuunaayili, Wurishe, Koblimahigu and Fuo.
The vice President, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia led a high powered government team on a fact finding mission to some communities affected by a recent flood disaster in the Tamale Metropolitan Area.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmononline.com/Ghana