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Flood from Bui dam spillage leaves 1,500 residents displaced in Buipe
Around 1,500 residents, encompassing women and children from 500 households, find themselves displaced by floodwaters in Buipe, located in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region.
According to the Central Gonja office of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), 239 adult males and 230 adult females, in addition to 348 boys and 427 girls, have been compelled to evacuate their homes.
NADMO further reports that three public toilets and an immeasurable number of private ones are now submerged, posing potential health hazards.
The deluge has overwhelmed food stores, engulfing fifty acres of farmland and leaving three private schools inundated.
Mohammed Mustapha, the Central Gonja District Director of NADMO, expressed his discontent in an interview with MyJoyOnline, accusing the management of the Bui Dam of negligence for failing to notify the affected communities, contradicting their earlier promise to educate individuals along the banks of the Black Volta River before any spillage.
“Period to this water spillage this season, they [management of Bui dam] told us that they would come because their water level was still high and so, we should prepare a budget for us to use seven days to sensitize the people around the river banks.”
“Yes, so, Buipe, Banda, Bole, and Kintampo North NADMO Directors, did collaborate and submit the budget to Bui Dam as requested.”
“But after submission, they failed to turn up or communicate to us again until we began seeing the water coming into people’s houses and farmlands. So, it’s a failure on Bui Dam for not living by their words”, he bemoaned.
The Director recounted similar behavior by Bui Dam last year where they denied the spillage only to later visit Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor I to claim responsibility for it.
He, however, commended the Ghana Red Cross Society for their continued support, “because apart from the 14 home kits they gave us, they also sent volunteers to help evacuate the victims. GES also handed over the 6-unit R/C primary school block to us to accommodate the displaced”.
Mohammed Mustapha later appealed for engagement between the government and traditional rulers for the permanent relocation of residents.
But attempts by Myjoyonline to reach out to officials from Bui Dam for their of the allegation yielded no results.
Meanwhile, the affected communities have increased from four last year to seven this year.
They include Buipe Zongo, Buipe Bridge, Evelyn Buipe Bridge, and the Catholic education area. The rest are Buipe Market, Ali Complex, and Sawaba.
The Ghana Red Cross Society National Disaster Coordinator, Jonathan told Myjoyonline, “We are looking at Savannah Region specifically, Buipe, Daboya, and other surroundings. So, we put up some preparedness measures by training about forty volunteers in the Region to assist NADMO with regards to evacuation as well as assist in the health education because the flood usually comes with other health-related risks.”
“We had a meeting with NADMO and agreed to assist with emergency family tents with residential packages and First aid. We are also mobilizing relief packages,” he indicated.
He said his outfit would be launching a National disaster campaign and follow up with whatever intervention they would bring to the victims.
Our team came face to face with a young mother of two, Asana Umaru full of tears not knowing where to turn to with the children. She said her husband, Fuseini refused to listen to her not to travel leaving her alone not knowing where to turn to with the children.
It also took our news team time to convince a pregnant woman, Aisha Imoro who was still lying inside to move out of her room to safety.
Some of the victims who were on their way out narrated their stories to Myjoyonline.
One of them, Adam Tanko explained that “as for this year, the water is too much. As of now, we don’t have a place to lay our heads yet.”
“So, as you can see, we are hanging around. What we just harvested, is in the water because life first. So, we are pleading with the Government to come to our side. The water is from somewhere as we are sure is from Bui Dam because as of yesterday, the watermark was small but we went to bed and woke up the morning and my house was flooded. So, rainwater alone can’t do that. We want the Government to bring the Bui Dam people to order. They should respect the lives over here because we are human beings and Ghanaians too,” Adam Tanko added.
The Head of Disaster of Ghana Red Cross Society, Jonathan Hope indicated that “we are looking at Savannah Region specifically, Buipe, Daboya, and other surroundings.”
“So, we put up some preparedness measures by training about forty volunteers in Savannah Region to assist NADMO with regards to evacuation as well as assist in the health education because the flood usually comes with other health-related risks.”
“We had a meeting with NADMO and agreed to assist with emergency family tents with residential packages and First aid. We are also mobilizing relief packages,” he added.
“So, as you can see, we are hanging around. What we just harvested, is in the water because life first. So, we are pleading with the Government to come to our side. The water is from somewhere as we are sure is from Bui Dam because as of yesterday, the watermark was small but we went to bed and woke up the morning and my house was flooded. So, rainwater alone can’t do that. We want the Government to bring the Bui Dam people to order. They should respect the lives over here because we are human beings and Ghanaians too,” Adam Tanko added.
The Head of Disaster of Ghana Red Cross Society, Jonathan Hope indicated that “we are looking at Savannah Region specifically, Buipe, Daboya, and other surroundings.”
“So, we put up some preparedness measures by training about forty volunteers in Savannah Region to assist NADMO with regards to evacuation as well as assist in the health education because the flood usually comes with other health-related risks.”
“We had a meeting with NADMO and agreed to assist with emergency family tents with residential packages and First aid. We are also mobilizing relief packages,” he added.
He said his ou
“As for this year, the water is too much. As of now, we don’t have a place to lay our heads yet. So, as you can see, we are hanging around. What we just harvested, is in the water because life first. So, we are pleading with the Government to come to our side. The water is from somewhere as we are sure is from Bui Dam because as of yesterday, the watermark was small but we went to bed and woke up the morning and my house was flooded. So, rainwater alone can’t do that. We want Government to bring the Bui Dam people to order. They should respect the lives over here because we are human beings”, Adam Tanko cries out.
The Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril says he is, together with other partners, monitoring events on the ground to ensure that no lives are lost.
He advised residents to relocate to safer grounds while the government works to address the issues surrounding the Bui Dam spillage.
In a related development, unconfirmed reports say water from the Bagre dam is gradually reaching the Daboya’s enclave in the North Gonja district.
He said his outfit would be launching a disaster campaign in the country and follow up with whatever intervention they would bring to the victims.
The JoyNews team met a young mother of two, Asana Umaru full of tears carrying her kids. She said she advised her husband, Fuseini not to travel but he refused, leaving her alone not knowing where to turn to.
It also took the news team time to convince a pregnant woman to move out of her room to safety.
Some of the victims who were on their way out narrated their stories to Myjoyonline.
“As for this year, the water is too much. As of now, we don’t have a place to lay our heads yet. So, as you can see, we are hanging around. What we just harvested, is in the water because life first. So, we are pleading with the Government to come to our side. The water is from somewhere as we are sure is from Bui Dam because as of yesterday, the watermark was small but we went to bed and woke up the morning and my house was flooded. So, rainwater alone can’t do that. We want Government to bring the Bui Dam people to order. They should respect the lives over here because we are human beings”, Adam Tanko cries out.
The Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril says he is, together with other partners, monitoring events on the ground to ensure that no lives are lost.
He advised residents to relocate to safer grounds while the government works to address the issues surrounding the Bui Dam spillage.
In a related development, unconfirmed reports say water from the Bagre dam is gradually reaching the Daboya’s enclave in the North Gonja district.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
