Bolgatanga, Aug. 13, GNA - Mr Alhassan Samari, Upper East Regional Minister on Wednesday expressed concern about imminent re-occurrence of floods in Upper East Region this year. This is in the wake of warnings from Ghana Meteorological Agency of continuous rains and information from Burkina Faso that the Bagre Dam would be opened for spillage therefore people living around the White and Black Volta Rivers should be evacuated.

Mr Samari expressed the concern at a meeting with Upper East Regional Heads of Departments to deliberate on issues concerning the Region, how to solve them and apathy within the civil service. He said last year, the people were not aware of the floods but this year adequate information had been given however, natural as these floods were it was important that the necessary contingent measures were instituted to salvage the situation.

Mr Samari appealed to philanthropists, organisations and individuals, embassies and NGOs to assist the people when the imminent disaster occurred.

He directed all heads of departments to ensure that their staffs who left Bawku during the conflict returned as calm had virtually returned to the area.

Mr Samari said the markets had re-opened and brisk business was underway while banks and lorry parks which were virtually not functioning were now active.

"With the virtual return of peace to the area, there is no reason why some public and civil servants should continue to stay away from work under the pretext of fearing for lives," he added. Mr Samari also expressed concern about the manner heads of departments travelled outside the Region without officially notifying the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (UERCC) and said the UERCC as a coordinating body was to ensure government business was pursued holistically to realise set goals even though the various departments could be doing different assignments. He said as administrators, who were conversant with management practices, it was necessary that they took cognisance of their roles and keep the UERCC updated.

"I urge you to always inform me in writing whenever you are leaving the Region whether on official duties or not." Mr Samari explained that the purpose on insisting that the UERCC be informed was the fact that they might need support especially when they encountered difficulties at their head offices in Accra.

He said when UERCC was aware of the purpose for which they travelled to Accra, "I can enhance and facilitate your mission by contacting my colleagues in Accra so that our Region can have its fair share of the national cake."

Mr Samari complained about the failure of some departments to submit reports about their activities to the UERCC and said quarterly presentation of reports were essential for the development of the Region.

He said small-scale contracts awarded by departmental tender committees required to be discussed with the UERCC to avoid duplication at both the regional and district levels. The Upper East Regional Secretariat of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has already instituted measures including public education, especially to people living in low land areas while the Municipal and District Chief Executives have been urged to intensify the sensitisation of the public through the media. PAF 13 Aug. 08