RCC holds flood disaster preparedness meeting … With heads of Departments, stakeholders
AS PART of proactive measures to forestall any possible disasters from floods this year, the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has held a flood-preparedness meeting with all heads of Departments, and stakeholders in the region.
Chaired by the Regional Minister, Mr. Alhassan Samari, the meeting discussed, among other things, issues concerning possible disasters that may come about as a result of floods, heavy rains, drought, and food insecurity.
Mr. Samari recalled the devastating effects of last year's floods, which caused damage to bridges, crops, livestock, dwelling places, schools health facilities, the environment, and more painfully, the loss of human lives.
The main focus of the meeting was to obtain views on disaster issues from all stakeholders, receive, collate and subsequently study/analyse information from disaster prone-areas for future action, obtain statistical data from relevant bodies, in order to compile a credible data-base for flood management, and exchange lessons learnt from past experiences.
All the District Chief Executives (DCEs), or their representatives, were present to give situational reports on the current state of their respective districts, regarding this year's rain season, and measures they have put in place to avert any disasters.
From the Builsa District, the DCE, Mr. Thomas Alonsi, reported that from August 8 to 20, this year, the district suffered floods, with some houses being submerged in flood waters, for between three to five hours.
This led to the displacement of about 150 inhabitants, while four dams had their embanks broken, with the resultant water spillage draining them empty.
Six roads, including the Navrongo-Sandema and Wiaga-Kadema roads, and 12 bridges were also affected.
Mr. Alonsi said the problems had been compounded, because these roads and bridges were the very ones affected last year, but were not rehabilitated. Some farms were also washed away.
The Kassena-Nankana DCE, Mr. Emmanuel Chegeweh, (alias Focus), lamented that the drought which came before the rainy season, had ruined early millet that was cropped by farmers, and could cause possible famine for them.
Mr. Chegeweh, was however optimistic that with current rain fall patterns, the late millet could do well, and this could cater for the locals.
The Regional Minister, who is currently acting as the DCE for Garu-Tempane, following the resignation of the substantive DCE, Emmanuel Asigri, said apart from the bad road network in that district, no incident of floods had been recoded.
The situation was no different in the Bongo district, where a representative of the DCE reported that apart from a culvert on the Bongo-Sabolgu road, there were no disaster-related issues.
Mr. Anabila Anafu, DCE for Talensi-Nabdam, disclosed that a few farmlands, along the White Volta in the district, were affected by floodwaters. Also no house had collapsed in the district as of now.
However, the DCE mentioned the Tongo-Shega and Nangode-Pelungu roads among others, as some the affected roads. This sometimes made traveling difficult, especially whenever it rained.
Mr. Anabila revealed that the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) was planting trees in flood-prone areas in the district, to discourage farming activities.
The Bawku West District was applauded when the DCE, Mr. Desmond Bugbilla, announced that the district, in collaboration with Community-Based Rural Development Project, was planting trees along the White Volta, from Sapellega to Zongoyiri, to discourage farmers from farming in that area.
Though the Bawku MCE was not present, information from Bawku indicated that the area had not been affected by any heavy rains or floods this year.
The luckiest assembly in the region, in terms of flood/heavy rains affecting lives and property, was the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Isaac Nsoh Amoah, reported that last year, the municipality was not seriously affected.
All the M/DCEs stated that the use of Information Services Department information vans to educate the people early enough, on the dangers of floods, had really made a positive impact, as most of them heeded to the warnings, and took measures to avert possible disasters.
It was unanimous that personnel of the various disaster management committees, should be given capacity training, on disaster management and prevention.
Mr. Samari disclosed that the RCC had presented a request for food, and non-food items, to the government for consideration.
This was aimed at giving relief assistance to possible victims of possible flood disasters.
Last year, international organisations like the UN, UNICEF and NGOs, religious bodies and individuals came to the aid of the region, with relief items to assist victims of the flood disaster.
Source: William N. Jalulah - Ghanaian Chronicle
