The Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusawgu, John Abdulai Jinapor has appealed to the government through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to urgently bring some relief to the victims of the flood in Buipe.

The Member of Parliament said it is critical to bring relief to the victims whose suffering is getting unbearable.

“It is very critical that immediate relief is brought to mitigate the human suffering which is getting unbearable,” Mr Jinapor said.

A severe week-long rainstorm coupled with spilled water from the Black Volta has led to floods, resulting in the displacement of more than 1,000 residents of Buipe in the Central Gonja District in the Savannah Region. The rains and the water spillage have worsened the area’s infrastructural deficit and destroyed many livelihoods.

The MP thus urged the government, non-governmental organizations, international aid organizations, and philanthropists to assist the victims urgently because those uprooted by the disaster are in desperate need of shelter, food, and clean drinking water.

Previous Buipe Floods

In October 2022, several persons were displaced at Buipe after the Black Volta River was spilled to keep the Dam to its water level limits. The spillage was to bring the water level in the dam to an acceptable level and safeguard the dam from being damaged by rising waters in the dam as a result of heavy rainfall. Unfortunately, the floods from the spillage were followed by torrential rainfall which led to the flooding of the community. This led to the displacement of hundreds in the Buipe Township of the Central Gonja District.

It was estimated that about 300 structures, including houses and schools, were submerged by the floodwaters. Although no casualty was recorded, the disaster left the victims trapped, and many of them sought refuge with family members and in incomplete buildings.

The Central Gonja District Director of the National Disaster Manager Organisation (NADMO), Nbonwura Mustapha, confirmed that the personnel of NADMO were on the ground to keep the situation under control. He indicated that the flood has submerged businesses and households and the impact on livelihoods was huge.

“At the moment, houses and three grinding mills have been submerged while shops and other businesses have been closed down due to the flood. So, the economic impact is very huge on the people.”
Nbonwura Mustapha

He also expressed his fears for a possible disease outbreak and assured the public that NADMO was working with all relevant authorities to relieve the victims. He mentioned that the victims are receiving emergency support from the District Chief Executive for Central Gonja, Iddrisu Salia Kamara.

He indicated that the assembly engaged people living along the Black Volta and other flood-prone areas for possible relocation as part of measures to find a lasting solution to the recurring floods in the area.

The Central Gonja District Director of NADMO, Mohammed Mustapha blamed the management of the Bui Dam for negligence for failing to give a prior notice to the 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. “
Mohammed Mustapha

The Central Gonja District Director of NADMO also underscored that Buipe, Banda, Bole, and Kintampo North NADMO Directors, did collaborate and submit the budget to Bui Dam as requested. Notwithstanding their participation in that, further communication about the spillage arrangements did not reach them.

“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” , Mr. Mohammed Mustapha added.