Gov’t to construct Pwalugu and Tamne dams

Mr Albert Akuka Allzuuga, Garu-Tempane District Chief Executive (DCE) has reiterated Governments commitment to construct dams at Tamne and Pwalugu in the Upper East Region.

The Tamne dam would be situated in the Garu-Tempane District whilst the Pwalugu Dam would be in the Talensi District.

Mr Allzuuga made this known at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on Participatory Planning Scenario, at Garu, in the Upper East Region.

He said plans are far advance for the two projects to start, which would serve multi-purpose functions and promote food and livestock production.

It would also generate hydrogen power and harvest rain water to prevent the usual annual flood problems in the region.

The workshop organised by Care International in collaboration with the Garu Tempane District Assembly was aimed at building the capacity of the participants on the effective means of sharing scientific and indigenous weather forecast for interpretation into useful information for climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.

Mr Allzuuga said the unpredictable nature of rainfall patterns had started creating problems in Sub-Saharan Africa and affecting farmers and other land users.

He noted that the frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events such as heat waves and erratic heavy rainfall, as well as the long term chronic effects of higher temperatures are constantly on the increase.

The DCE called on the development partners to support communities who have developed their action plans to deal with the climate variability to overcome the challenges unleashed by hazardous climatic occurrences.

He urged the participants to take advantage of adaptation of climate change information seriously to empower them overcome the challenges during the raining seasons.

Mr. Allzuuga acknowledged the immense contributions of development partners especially Care International for the good work they are carrying out in the District and communities.

Mr. Charles Kweku Yorke, Head of Research at the Ghana Metrological Agency said the Agency is expecting rainfall amounts from April to June as follows: East Coast - 440mm, West Coast - 760mm, Forest Zone - 480mm, Northern - 370mm, while Upper West Region would record 320mm.

The condition of the onset date of the rainy season is totalling 20 mm in a week with one of the rainfall events of 10mm or more without a dry spell of more than 10 days for the next four weeks, he explained.

He said the rainfall is expected to reduce from June and July and urged farmers to harvest water for use in anticipation of prolonged dry spells.