NADMO tests rescue boats ahead of Bagre Dam spillage

The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has begun testing its boats for monitoring and rescue mission on the tributaries of the Volta Lake in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region under its Operation Thunderbolt project.

It follows the declaration of the three northern regions as a highly disaster area. NADMO has thus resolved to temporarily move its headquarters to the Northern Region.

Spillage of the Bagre Dam by authorities of Burkina Faso has for the past years caused floods and the loss of property of people in the three northern regions, especially those close to the banks of the White and Black Volta in the northern region.

NADMO believes this year’s spillage of the dam is expected to be no different from the previous years. In an attempt to protect lives and property in the wake of the spillage, NADMO has constituted a 25-membership team for the Operation Thunderbolt stationed at the West Mamprusi District as part of the emergency mechanism to respond rapidly to flood victims ahead of the spillage of the Bagre Dam.

Mr. Winfred Namotey, head of Operations at NADMO said heavy rains are expected in the three regions amidst the spillage of the Bagri Dam with about 7 districts likely to be affected badly. They include West Mamprusi, Mamprugu Moaduri, Central and Western Gonja, Bawku West among others. He indicated NADMO is in talks with Burkina Faso to give Ghana five clear days notification before its spills the dam.

Meanwhile, a total of 29 communities have been identified in the West Mamprusi district only as areas to be heavily hit by the opening of the Bagri dam.

Again, the team is undertaking sensitization programme in the identified communities to ensure all residing close to river banks relocate before spillage commences.