FLOODS IMMINENT IN 3 NORTHERN REGIONS...As Burkina Faso spills her dams (SPREAD)

THE annual ritual of flooding in the three northern regions as a result of water spillage from hydro dams in Burkina Faso could recur this year, if contingency measures are not executed immediately.
Burkinabe officials issued the early warning on the pending floods yesterday, alerting their Ghanaian counterparts of an imminent spilling of their dams as a result of unusual heavy rains which have begun in that country.
Though the correspondence to the Northern Electricity Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and copied to the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council (UERCC) did not give any date for the spillage, it is believed to be immediate.
It indicated that the dams in that country were full and the authorities there would be compelled to open them soon to allow the water to flow into the White Volta which flows through Ghana.
Commenting on the urgency of the situation, the Area Manager of VRA, Mr Alex Papanko, said “when they are sure of the actual date, we shall be informed but it might be at short notice and so we need to prepare”.
In reaction, the UERCC has directed people living along the river banks, especially farmers, to move upstream to avoid any disaster as recorded in the 2007 floods, which destroyed several hectares of farmland, houses and property in the three northern regions and rendered several people homeless.
All the Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region are also to ensure that measures are put in place to avoid any casualty should the excess water from Burkina Faso swell up the river and possibly lead to flooding.
The Regional Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation has also been alerted to enable it to prepare adequately.
The areas most likely to be affected are Binduri, Nagoliga, Natinga and Vokop in the Bawku municipality and Sapeliga, Gogo, Saka and Bazua in the Bawku West District.
The rest are Pwalugu, Wuyimma, Gbimma, Bulbiya, Soo, Kpasinkpe, Logri No 1, Yagaba, Yag-Namoo, Soh-Namoo, Kpatorigu, Fio, Chamma, Salugu and Janga all in the West Mamprusi District.