The Volta River Authority (VRA) has donated quantities of food items to flood victims in the Upper East Region.
The Managing Director of VRA, Osman Ayuba has stated that the company, which is a key partner in the construction of the Pwalugu multipurpose dam, donated the items as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
The items which were handed over to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) at Nalerigu, included 400 bags of rice, 334 cartons of cooking oil, 200 cartons of sugar among others.
“We are aware of the spillage of the Bagre dam as well as the downpour that caused the loss of lives, livestock, foodstuffs, farmlands, and houses. We are very aware of this because it is all over the news, and we thought that it is only proper that we come and show our love and concern for the people who have suffered the floods, hence the donation.”
The Upper East Regional Minister, Solomon Boar received the donation on behalf of NADMO, thanking VRA for the kind gesture.
Mr. Boar further cautioned residents to stay away from flood prone areas.
“I want to call on those who claim they know how to swim, to stay away from the water for now. In fact, the water is so aggressive. I have had the opportunity to visit the area and it is serious. Two of the people who lost their lives were swimmers, in a boat. Those whose farms are flooded should stop trying to work on them. Stop going to harvest for now because we are not in normal times.”
Torrential rains in the northern part of Ghana coupled with spillage from the Barge dam in Burkina Faso left hundreds of farmlands submerged and properties destroyed. About ten people lost their lives due to the twin disaster.
Almost every year, the flood gates of Bagre dam are opened and this usually affects residents along the White and Black Volta rivers.
It can be recalled that, the Vice President of Ghana Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, visited victims of the flood. In his conversation with the residents, he assured them that Government is investing in the Pwalugu dam to help fix the crisis in the region.
According to David Prah, a senior government official in-charge of stakeholders and communications for Pwalugu dam project, he revealed that the level of water is good for its hydrological studies since that would be factored into the planning of the dam.
“It is good that we have seen that magnitude of the water at this time so it will help us with the hydrological studies that we are carrying out.”
