Upper East ready for oncoming floods

Bolgatanga, Aug 13, GNA - The National Disaster Management organisation (NADMO) in the Upper East Region has prepared the region for possible floods this month, August.

The organisation has undertaken several clean up exercises to open up drains for free flow of water when ever it rains to help prevent or minimise floods.

The exercise was to create awareness and to target residents who have settled in lowland areas such as Sandema in the Builsa District, parts of the Bolgatanga Municipality, Navrongo, Bawku East and Bawku West, Talensi-Nabdam and Bongo districts.

Addressing people to live along the White Volta River, the Bolgatanga Municipal Coordinator, Mr Edward Ayagle, appealed to them to relocate because there had been a warning by Burkina Faso authorities that there might be water spill from their dams that could cause the river to over flow its banks.

Mr. Ayagle advised people interested in buying land to consult the land valuation authorities to enable them acquire land from water-free areas.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency the Regional Manager of NADMO, Mr. Patrick Akaake, said most floods were as a result of human behaviour.

"Until we change our behaviour of settlement there would always be disaster in our homes."

Mr. Akaake told the GNA that the organisation had taken delivery of some relief items against the expected floods.

He appealed to individuals and developmental partners to always be in a position to help affected victims.

Some residents of Pobaga community in the Bolatanga Municipality called on NADMO to provide them with the requisite equipment to help them keep their environment clean.

Meanwhile, recent information from the Burkina Faso Authorities said the dams had not reached full capacity yet and they would be spilled only when the water level goes beyond the maximum level.