Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Joseph Amiyuure has hinted the assembly would soon demolish all structures on watercourses to avert perennial flooding in the municipality.
Every year, some areas of the regional capital of the Upper East Region experienced flooding which has often been attributed mainly to unauthorized structures on watercourse and poor drainage. Areas often affected included Pobaga, Sawaba and Daweo which are described as areas in low lying.
In an exclusive interview with TopNews Ghana, Mr. Amiyuure disclosed that apart from assessment conducted by the planning unit of the assembly, he has personally visited flood-prone areas and seen for himself, the need to demolish those structures to avert flooding this year.
He dismissed the assertion that some assembly staff were condoning and conniving with developers to put up structures on waterways. “I know that the assembly will never give permit to anybody to put up a structure along the drain. That one, I can stand for any officer in the assembly,” he said.
Though Mr. Amiyuure could not give a definitive date for the commencement of the demolishing exercise, he was emphatic it will start very soon.
In a related development, residents and farmers in flood-prone areas in the Upper East Region have been advised to be on high alert as flooding in those areas could take them by surprise. Deputy Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in charge of operations, Paul Wooma, told TopNews Ghana though heavy rains have not been experienced since the start of this rainy season, it could take one or two days of continuous rains to get those areas flooded.
He disclosed that by way of preparedness, a rapid response team for rescue mission was being set up in Walewale in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region and another in the Upper West Region. Known as Operations Thunderbolt, the team will also sensitise communities often affected by the annual spillage of Bagre Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Source:TopNewsGhana.com
