A 500 million dollar Brazilian facility has been sought by government to construct two dams, one in Pwalugu, in the Upper East Region and the other in the Western Region. The construction of the dam in Pwalugu is aimed at curbing the annual flooding that hit the Upper East and Northern regions as a result of spillways of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso.

This was revealed by the Upper East regional Minister, Mark Wayongo, when he was asked what measures have been put in place to check the spillage. He spoke with Emefa Apawu, host of the Big Bite on X fm, an Accra based radio station.

He said, the dam in Pwalugu when constructed, will collect excess water any time the Bagre dam is opened which will be used for hydro electric generation and irrigation purposes.

Feasibility studies have been completed on both sites and work is to begin soon. However, Mr Wayongo said the construction of the dam in the Western Region has delayed the start of work up north. He said feasibility studies done in the region had revealed that the dam, when constructed will cause flooding in Cote d’voire. “The Volta River Authority I am told is now conducting another feasibility studies to reduce the effect of the flooding in Cote d’voire and when that is done, work will begin,” Mr Wayongo said.

The death toll from the opening of the spillways of the Bagre Dam now stands at 17, according to the National Disaster Management Organisation, (NADMO).

Mr Wayongo said the deaths were as a result of failure by the victims to heed the advice of his outfit and other institutions to relocate from the area. He said others have risked their lives to harvest their crops submerged by the floods leading to their deaths. They attempt to do so by canoes, some of which capsized.

The annual flooding, Mr Wayongo said is a cause of constant worry to him. “Sometimes, I have sleepless nights because of this flooding and loss of lives and property. It is a priority to me,” Mark Wayongo said. ABENA ASIEDUA TENKORANG/ROBERT ISRAEL X FM, ACCRA, GHANA