NADMO set to embark on a pre-flood clean-up exercise

28-07-2011
The Bolgatanga Municipal Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation, NADMO in collaboration with other stakeholders including community volunteers will on Saturday, July,30 2011 embark on a pre-flood clean up exercise to clean, desilt and clear all chocked gutters in some flood prone communities within the Municipality and its immediate environs. The Municipal NADMO Coordinator, Timothy Anaab who made the pronouncement in an interview with Radio Ghana said the move is in preparation towards possible flooding in such communities, particularly, Dameon Kombangre and Sawaba, where a newly constructed drain is cited. The exercise, he further explained has become necessary due to the numerous flood alerts and warning systems in the event of spillage from the Bagre dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso. According to him, flooding experienced in some parts of the region as a result of heavy downpour coupled with the spillage from the Bagre dam has become an annual ritual that occurs between the month of August through to September and October, hence the need for the exercise. Mr. Anaab mentioned the 2007 flooding in the three Northern Regions as one of the worst disasters the regions have recorded and appealed to residents in the region to be mindful of activities that cause waterways to be chocked. He said NADMO as part of its contingency measures is putting in place adequate measures to protect lives and property in case of any flood eventuality. He therefore appealed to residents living in low lying areas to relocate to higher grounds in order to ensure their safety. The Regional Director NADMO, Patrick Akake, also in an interview with Radio Ghana urged residents of the municipality to take a cue from past events and desist from activities that have the tendency of causing flooding, particularly farming activities along the White Volta Basin. He said as part of its contingency planning, his outfit has requested for logistics and other relief items including food stuffs from the NADMO headquarters, to cater for victims in case of any flooding and appealed to residents to be cautious of activities that cause flooding. Mr. Akake moreover, urged all disaster volunteers and zonal officers to be proactive by involving all community members to take part in the upcoming exercise.
GBC END IA/