General News of Friday, 6 August 2010

Source: GNA

NADMO alerts of possible flooding from Burkina Faso

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA - The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has activated its contingencies towards any massive flooding in the catchments area, especially communities along the White and Black Volta basins in the three northern regions.

A statement issued in Accra said this followed the receipt of alert from Burkina Faso on the possible spillage of the Bagre and Kampiengo dams on Tuesday, August 10.

It said as part of the preparations, the National Co-ordinator had instructed all NADMO Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal, District and Zonal Co-ordinators to intensify public education and sensitisation in their respective areas on the need for all to take precautionary measures to safeguard their lives and property.

"NADMO has also put in place systems to monitor rising water levels in the catchments areas when the spillage takes place."

All Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Disaster Management Committees have also put in place measures to assist people in vulnerable areas who would be re-locating to higher grounds due to the spillage.

Plans for swift and timely response in the event of flooding are also being put in place.

To ensure that the Burkinabe authorities adhere to the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that requires controlled spillage to avoid any massive flooding, technical personnel from various stakeholder agencies would move to Burkina Faso to witness the spillage of the dams.

The joint NADMO-48 Engineer Regiment Rescue Team is on standby to move to the north in the event of any serious flooding.

It would be recalled that during the June 2010 Southern Ghana floods, the team rescued several people trapped in flood waters at Ashaiman, Adenta and Afienya in the Grater Accra Region and Agona Swedru in the Central Region.