Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh
THE NATIONAL DISASTER Management Organization (NADMO) has officially launched its initiative to protect lives and property along the banks of the Black and White Volta Rivers in the light of the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso dubbed ‘Operation Thunderbolt’.
The operation forms part of many interventions by NADMO to mitigate the effects of the spillage of the dam on Ghanaians living along the banks of the rivers.
At a press conference held at the NADMO headquarters in Accra yesterday, Director-General of NADMO, Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, disclosed that the managers of the dam, Sonabel Authorities of Burkina Faso, served a notice notifying them of the project.
He said the rising trend of the dam, which has reached 80 per cent as compared to last year’s 50 per cent, has made it imperative that the spillage of the dam, which was scheduled for the first week of September this year, be done earlier than scheduled.
He disclosed that the spillage of the dam which is expected to last for a week would commence today and would result in the Black and White Volta Rivers overflowing their banks which would affect residents living along the banks of both rivers.
Mr. Agyemang-Prempeh indicated that as part of its interventions, NADMO has sent a team from its operations department at the headquarters headed by its Deputy Director-General in charge of operations, Abu Ramadan, to pitch camps in Walewale and Zebilla to aid affected people in any rescue operations to help save the lives of residents along the banks who are likely to be in danger as a result of the spillage and overflow of these rivers.
Personnel have also been sent from NADMO to the various regions and districts that would be affected by the spillage. They would remain at their various stations till the end of the spillage before returning to Accra.
He urged the residents along the banks of the rivers to move their valuables to higher grounds for their safety, adding “the NADMO team will be on-hand to give you all the needed support to ensure the safety of your lives and valuables.”
He also mentioned that proper collaborations have been made by NADMO with the appropriate bodies to ensure the success of the project.
“All plans are underway, and we are in collaboration with the UN Agencies, the 48 Engineer Regiment, the Police, the Fire Service, Ambulance Services, the Hydro-meteorological Services, District Assemblies and the affected communities to help mitigate the effect of the spillage on our people”, he said.
Management of the Volta River Authority (VRA) has also issued a statement alerting the general public and residents along the rivers to take precautionary measures to avoid being adversely affected by the impending spillage.
In all, Karaga, East Gonja, Nanumba South, Tolon Kumbungu, Bole and West Gonja Districts in the Northern Region will be affected.
Others include the Savelugu, Nanton, East Mamprusi, Yendi and West Mamprusi Districts.
The Upper East Region will see the Bawku, Binduri and Talensi Districts also affected by the spillage.
In the Upper West Region, the Nandom, Lawra, Nadowli and Wa West Districts are also marked for spillage.
The Northern Volta will have the Nkwanta North, Krachi East, Krachi West and Krachi Nchumuru all affected and the Afram Plains North and South in the Eastern Region will be affected.
BY: Nii Adjei Mensahfio