Bui (B/A), May 27, GNA - Communities in the Bui Hydro Electric Power Project area have expressed appreciation for the on-going disinfectation exercise in the area against the black flies, which they said had been a nuisance to them.

"Now we can put on short sleeved shirts unlike in the immediate past when one dared not because of the influx of the swarms of the black flies", Kwadwo Num, a farmer told a group of journalists from Sunyani. The spraying exercise, under the Bui Disinfectation Project, is being undertaken by Zoomlion, a private waste management company. The six-month onchocerciacis control programme launched in September last year is expected to end in August.

The programme, aimed at controlling the black flies that carry germs that river blindness onchocerciacis, is progressing steadily. Residents of the 15 fringe communities where farms, homes and along the banks of the Black Volta are sprayed said the programme had brought great relief to them.

Workers at the Bui Hydro Electric Power Project site also confirmed that the black flies had been brought under control under the programme and they really appreciated the efforts by government. "We are no longer disturbed by the flies. We are greatly relieved", Mr. Kwame Tawiah, a crane operator foreman, said.

Mr. Samuel Nortey, Vector Control Coordinator of Zoomlion, said the 15 communities covered under the spraying exercise included Bongase, Akayakrom, Bui Camp, Dokokyena, Bui Village, Agbekla and Jama. He said in all 650 workers were involved in the disinfectation exercise and apart from demobilizing the adult flies, six canoes were being used to destroy the larvae of the flies on the banks of the river. A section of the workers at the Bui Power Project interviewed complained of improper and hasty dismissals, lack of safety gears, decent accommodation, canteen and low remuneration by the Chinese firm, Sinohydro Corporation undertaking the hydro project.

Mr. G.D. Boateng, Project Director of the Bui Power Authority, when contacted about the workers' grievances said the Authority was not directly involved in the engagement of the workers, which was done by contractors.

He said the Authority would hold a meeting with the contractors to resolve all the concerns.

Mr Boateng said a temporary housing project had been started and would be completed very soon. Mr. Yangi Yixin, Project Manager of Sinohydro Corporation, said the company had brought in safety boots and hats and they were being distributed to the workers. "We have the best accommodation (which is a temporary arrangement) for the workers in the present circumstances and we pay for overtime," he said. 27 May 08