Contrary to claims by some affected persons of the ongoing decongestion exercise in the Bolgatanga Municipality that taskforce members do not attach human face to their assignment thereby manhandling them, the Municipal Chief Executive, Edward Ayagle Ayiriba, says the public rather does not give the taskforce the needed corporation.

The exercise which started three weeks ago has witnessed many kiosks, billboards and signposts demolished. Earlier, Mr. Ayagle, explained that the exercise was mainly targeted at raising revenue for the assembly.

However, several questions have been raised about the mode and approach of the exercise. Speaking in an exclusive interview with A1 News, Mr. Ayagle, admitted that he had received similar complains about the approach but insisted the taskforce members were on course and called for the corporation of the general public.

He hinted that the exercise has been useful adding that, the assembly would present a comprehensive report on the decongestion exercise, which would cover the revenue accrued from the exercise and how it would be spent.

According to Mr. Ayagle, the exercise was supposed to have lasted for 21 days but the taskforce are demanding for an extension, on the basis that, they’ve not covered some vital areas so it could possibly be extended by a week.

The three regions of northern Ghana have 75 per cent chance of getting normal rain this year without floods, but with the likelihood of dry spells. The dry spells most likely would occur in May and August and last for about one to two weeks.

Charles Yorke, Research Director of the Ghana Meteorological Services (GMET) announced this at a meeting of farmers, assembly members, community representatives and other stakeholders in agriculture, held at Gambaga in the Northern Region on Wednesday.

The two-day participatory scenario planning (PSP) meeting organized by Adaptation Learning Program (ALP), Ghana, under CARE International, was aimed at developing advisories based on the anticipated weather scenario for more resilient livelihoods and risk management in the communities.

Mr. Yorke said the rains this year would generally be accompanied by strong winds and would start in April and end in October. He noted that the rainfall pattern would be like that of 2005.

He explained that the rains would not start on the same day in all the regions, but a total rainfall of 20mm in one week with one of the rains reading up to 10mm was an indication that the rainy season had started. Likewise when the rains stop for 10 days in October, then that would be a sign of the end of the season.

He then advised farmers not to hold or use cutlasses when it is raining or seek shelter under trees as the electric charge around trees during such times could easily attract lightning.

Earlier on, the farmers, discussing the local forecast based on age-long beliefs, said the rains would be moderate but could not agree on whether there would be strong winds or not.

Such beliefs include the fruiting of the shea nut and “Sibisibi” or local berry trees, whereby heavy fruiting is widely believed to indicate heavy rains.

Also, when birds that nest near river banks suddenly start building their nest high up in the trees, it indicates the onset of heavy rains.

THE BAWKU West District Epidemic Prevention Committee has placed a temporary ban on the movement of four legged animals and their meat within and out of the district. This follows the outbreak of anthrax in the Guzongo community of the district.

The decision on the ban was arrived at on Monday when members of the District Epidemic Prevention Committee visited the Guzongo community to ascertain the level of anthrax outbreak in the area which has so far killed about 30 cattle and a donkey.

In an interview, Madam Mary Stella Adapesa, a member of the committee and Bawku West District Director of Health, said the committee’s decision will be place for two weeks. During the period, members with the support of the veterinary officers and their superiors will monitor the situation.

The ban also affects the slaughtering of animals and residents have been advised not to eat meat from ill animals or carcasses. Madam Adapesa also urged the people to report to the nearest health center if they have diarrhea or difficulty in breathing and wash their hands thoroughly.

Last year, a similar ban was enforced in the Sapeliga and Googo communities following an outbreak of the disease.

On Monday, the veterinary officers in the district started the treatment of in-contact animals with antibiotic. The three-day exercise is expected to end today and then pave way for vaccination of the animals.

By: William Jalulah | A1Radioonline.com | Ghana