Government has asked residents of communities affected by the recent Bagre Dam spillage to relocate to higher grounds.
This comes after 6 persons were reported dead and many displaced in communities in the North East and Upper East regions after the dam was spilt.
Works and Housing Minister Samuel Atta Akyea says government has put in place interim measures to minimise the effects of the spillage, however, residents of affected communities must move to ensure their safety and prevent further harm.
“I sympathise with those who have lost people but I can tell you that we are wide awake and and seeking solutions to the problem.
“In the meantime, we are doing what we call the sensitization programme so that people move from harm’s way,” he said on the Super Morning Show.
At least 6 persons were confirmed dead with many displaced after the Bagre Dam spillage wreaked havoc in communities in the North East and Upper East Regions.
The Regional Director for the National Disaster Management Organisation (NaDMO) who confirmed the development to JoyNews, said these persons including a 3-year-old girl drowned in the Bunkprugu and East Mamprusi Districts while another man also drowned at Janga in the West Mamprusi municipality.
John Alhassan Kweku added that, residents, farmlands, and infrastructure especially road networks across the region have been badly affected.
Reacting to the development, Mr Atta Akyea said government has begun desilting and dredging works on the White Volta to improve land drainage and further minimise the effects of the disaster in times ahead.
“The dredging works started in 2018 with 22.6 million. President Akufo-Addo paid this sum of money for us to desilt our immediate natural resource, that is the white Volta so the effect is minimised,” he said.
He added that the problem is one that needs some efforts from Burkina Faso [in terms of resolving], however, government will not back down on finding solutions.
“It’s a cross-national problem. The control systems are not with Ghana alone when we have Burkina Faso’s systems that you cannot totally control,” he said.
He further noted that government through NADMO is still sensitizing residents in these communities on the need.
“It could have been worse but NADMO and all the stakeholders are doing serious business to educate the people in the area too so it is not governmental impotence as it is being portrayed. We are looking at it,” he concluded.
Source:myjoyonline