Bagre dam disaster: Declare state of emergency now – Security analyst to Govt

Security analyst Adam Bonah has called for the immediate declaration of a “state of emergency” in the three northern regions following the devastating twin occurrence of the spillage of the Bagre Dam and weeks of torrential downpour—which has killed 18 people with over 100,000 rendered homeless.

The destruction from the twin occurrence is out of control, leaving regional authorities overwhelmed and helpless.

“This thing has been going on for how many weeks? The state of emergency should have been declared by now. ECOWAS should have been brought in because it has to with intra-Africa, where you have water spillage from a neighbouring country into another neighbouring country that has affected about 50, 000,” said Bonah on Morning Starr.

He told Francis Abban host of the Morning Starr that the response of the government in dealing with disaster is “disgusting.”

The Social Enterprise Development Foundation of West Africa (SEND) Ghana accused the government of neglecting the three northern regions in the wake of a devastating twin occurrence.

“So far there has been no significant response on the part of the government. In some districts, you had DCEs going around to assess the situation but in terms of response to actually send reliefs to the community and affected citizens that really hasn’t happened,” Mumuni Mohammed, SEND Ghana’s team leader for the Northern and Upper East Regions told Starr News.

“Government commitment in this regard has been weak because this has been with us for ages. How long can we continue to deal with the issue based on kneejerk reaction? The government hasn’t really demonstrated any serious commitment to dealing with this issue,” he added.

Food Insecurity Looms

Mr Mohammed continued warning of a possible food shortage in the three northern regions following the disaster.

“This an area all of us are aware poverty is levels already high and so what are we doing to make sure that this doesn’t worsen the situation. If we are not careful we are likely to witness food insecurity as a result of this. And this is something that we have expected,” he stated.

“Everybody along this spillage way is now for himself or herself. That’s lamentable,” added the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central Inusah Fuseini