Bagre Dam: Farmers appeal for piecemeal spillage

Farmers at Pawlugu in the Talensi District of the Upper East region are calling on government to negotiate with the Burkinabe authorities so that water spilt from the Bagre Dam can be done in a piecemeal.

The farmers live far away from the White Volta where their farms are located are anxious and afraid their crops will be destroyed.

According to Joy News’ Albert Sore, the crops are already submerged because the area is waterlogged from days of rainfall, so the opening of the dam will completely destroy their farms.

Their anxiety follows the Burkina Faso power authority SONABEL announcement that they will start spilling water from the dam on Thursday.

Accordingly, the Volta River Authority has issued a statement asking all residents in the path of the flood waters to move.

In a swift move, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has dispatched a team from Accra to beef­up operations in the three northern regions and parts of Eastern Region ahead of the Bagre Dam spillage.

The “Operation Thunderbolt” team headed by Abu Ramadan, Deputy Coordinator will pitch camp in Walewale and Zebilla to help affected people along the banks of both Black and White Volta Rivers in any rescue operations.

The Deputy Cordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) told Joy News he expects the farmers to move to a higher ground.   

Abu Ramadan indicated that a team of disaster experts will be stationed in Walewale for the next month to forestall any unforeseen eventualities.

“During this period, the team will be going to communities which are closer to likely to be affected by the spillage. We will ensure that people will move a further up so they are not heavily affected,” he said.

He indicated that the levels as compared to last year - 52 percent - has risen to 82 percent this year which might be the reason for the spilling.

Regions to be affected by the spillage are the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Northern Volta and Afram Plains in the Eastern Region.

Eleven districts that will be affected in the Northern Region includes Karaga, East Gonja, Nanumba South, Tolon Kumbungu, Bole, West Gonja, Savelugu, Nanton, East Manprusi, Yendi, and West Mamprusi.

In the Upper East Region, Bawku West, Binduri and Talensi districts will be affected, while in Upper West Region, Nandom, Lawra, Nadowli and Wa West districts will be affected.

Nkwanta North, Krachi East, Krachi West and Krachi Nchumuru districts in the Northern Volta will be affected and Afram Plains North and Afram Plains South districts in the Eastern Region will also be affected.

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