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| Front view of the Northern Star Tomato Factory (NSTF) |
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| Inside the factory |
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| Mr Woyongo and his team on the their way to the factory |
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| Road network leading to the factory flooded |
09-09-2012
Narration: Management of the Northern Star Tomato Factory (NSTF)
formerly Pwalugu Tomato factory in the Upper East Region has expressed deep
resentment about the undue risen water level at the factory due to
the spillage of the Bagre dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso. The unfortunate
trend authority says is compounded by the recent hours of torrential rains
experienced in most parts of the regions. Correspondent Isaac Asare has the
rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
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ANCR V/O
Report
A visit by
Radio Ghana and some NADMO officials including the Upper East Regional Minister Mark Woyongo
saw the factory been gradually overtaken by flood waters causing intense fear
among management of the state edifice. Though the factory is temporarily out of
operation due to shortage of raw materials, most of its working apparatus
including the distribution panel which supplies power to other parts of the factory
had been affected by the flood. Road
network leading to the factory had been cut off as a result of the gradual
water inflow at the site. The implication is that should the situation persist,
most working machinery erected at the site would be in serious jeopardy. The
General Manager of the NSTF, Kwabena Darko told Radio Ghana that the situation
was causing a big scare, hence the urgent need for adequate interventionary
measure to curtail the trend. He made a passionate appeal to the authorities
concern to act swiftly by consulting the Burkinabe authorities in charge of
Bagre dam to spill at a slow rate in order not to cause serious damage to lives
and property. Residents of the three northern
regions, he lamented, had suffered over the years due to the perennial flooding
situation, adding that it is high time authorities react in a manner that will ensure
the safety of the people, particularly those living along the White Volta
basin. Few meters away from the factory were large stretch of farmlands being
inundated by the flood waters. The water level had risen to a crucial level
posing a serious threat to the only bridge linking Bolgatanga to Tamale. The
Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo described the risen water level as a
disaster, considering its devastating effect on lives and property including
farmlands. According to him information received from the Embassy of Burkina
Faso indicates that catchment areas of the Bagre dam has for the past days
experience continuous heavy downpour compelling the authorities to increase the
spill way. He said as a matter of urgency efforts would be made to address the
problem. Mr Woyongo however announced his resolve to embark on an emergency
trip to Burkina Faso, tomorrow to engage talks with the Bagre authorities to
minimize the rate of spillage before the situation gets out of hand. Mr Woyongo
to that effect has therefore suspended
all activities that were suppose to take place tomorrow, particularly his
intended tour of some constituencies to mark the end of the biometric register
exhibition exercise. The Regional Coordinator of NADMO, Patrick Akake for his
part said his outfit has taken delivery of some relief items which according to
him would be share among affected people in the Talensi as well as Bawku East
and West Districts. He indicated that the item would cater solely for those
whose farms were affected before concentrating on any other victim. Mr. Akake
however took the opportunity to caution those living along water bodies as well
as those occupying low lying areas to move to safer grounds till the rainy
season is over, hopefully by the end of the month. NADMO, he said is under
resourced and cannot shoulder interventions alone. He therefore appealed to institutions
and agencies to complement the effort of NADMO and the government by attending
to flood victims in times of needs.
GBC END IA/
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| General Manager NSTF, Kwabena Darko |
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| A component of the factory |
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