General News
NADMO PRO: Akosombo dam spillage: Affected people rejected prior warning
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has criticised citizens living beside the Akosombo Dam for failing to heed repeated warnings to leave the region in the case of a leak.
Some people and civil society organisations have harshly criticised NADMO authorities for failing to provide communities with correct information before the dam leaks.
In an interview with Citi TV/Citi FM’s The Big Issue, NADMO’s Director of Communications, George Ayisi, said that the Akosombo Dam leakage heavily struck the victims because they ignored the warnings.
He said that locals were taken off guard because prior warnings of a probable spillage in 2022 did not materialise, despite the fact that they had carefully sensitised the inhabitants.
Mr Ayisi emphasised that the simulation exercises conducted by NADMO in May 2023 were to sensitise locals to the impending tragedy.
“We set up a team comprised of NADMO and the Volta River Authority in March 2023. The technical engagement between NADMO and VRA produced an emergency preparedness plan. Simulation is a part of the emergency preparedness plan. In May, we had the simulation exercise, where we engaged all the people in all 9 districts. We even extended it to Kpando, so that they were on standby. In case there’s a spillover, maybe Kpando will have the effect.”
He further clarified, “The assemblies, all major stakeholders in the communities were there, we engaged them. We demonstrated what ought to be done, we extensively involved them. We were doing concurrent simulation exercises. And so I’m surprised people say nobody was notified. The people were aware, but they didn’t believe the spillage was going to be done, because in 2022, VRA warned of a spillage, the people were informed, but it didn’t happen. So they thought last year we came and told them but nothing happened. Yes, in 2010 there was a spillage, but it didn’t inundate us in any way.”
Furthermore, he stated that the warnings prevented any deaths in the region as a result of the spill.
“I believe it is part of that exercise that we have not recorded any fatality as of now,” he stated.
Mr Ayisi stressed that they had to force some affected victims to move out after the spillage.
“When inundation started, some of them didn’t want to move out because they were protecting their properties, so we had to force them to move out,” he asserted.
He insisted that they had offered safe havens for the victims.
General News
Power interruptions damage our enterprises; release dumsor schedule – GUTA
The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has joined demands for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to produce a load-shedding schedule, citing the persistent power outages that are badly impacting companies and livelihoods across the nation.
GUTA issued a statement emphasising the considerable impact of the power outages on many sectors, including agriculture, trade, and industry.
According to them, firms are struggling to meet production schedules and prepare for their personnel as a result of the irregular power supply, which raises production costs and degrades living conditions.
Traders, store owners, wholesalers, tailors, dressmakers, electricians, and other artists are also suffering business losses as a result of the “Dumsor phenomenon.”
GUTA is asking for answers from ECG about the true reasons of the unpredictable power outages, measures to resolve the issue, and a deadline for resolution.
They also requested ECG to publish a timeframe for load-shedding so that companies may organise their activities appropriately.
Because of the unpredictability of power outages, many shop owners have turned to generators, which has resulted in rising fuel costs to keep them operating during outages.
General News
The Foreign Affairs Ministry cautions against travelling to Northern Mali
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has advised Ghanaians not to travel to certain areas of Northern Mali.
In an official statement, the Ministry underlined recent security concerns along critical routes connecting Mali and Niger, notably in the Gao and Ansongo regions of Northern Mali.
The Ministry mentioned incidents of terrorist activity targeting travellers along these routes.
“The Ministry remains committed to the safety of Ghanaians and will provide updates on the security situation in the region under reference in due course,” the statement went on to say.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry reminded the people to always prioritise their safety when travelling.
Find the statement below:
General News
Gov’t settles on blue and white as new paint for basic schools
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, has declared that the government intends to repaint all public basic schools in blue and white, replacing the present brown and yellow.
This programme is part of a rebranding campaign to improve the appearance of the institutions.
Dr Adutwum went on to say that this is only one of several initiatives targeted at revitalising and improving basic education in the country.
“We’re moving to blue and white. We are painting all of the schools to give them an appealing appearance. This is the revolution Ghana deserves, and it is on its way,” the minister said at a “The free SHS tale” discussion in Accra on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
He also announced the replacement of the brown and yellow outfits.
“We are modifying the uniforms of public elementary schools across the country. The yellow and brown that you see now will go. Reformation is coming to a community near you, and you will witness it.”
The education minister expanded, saying that this project is part of the government’s attempts to demonstrate to critics that its concentration is not exclusively on secondary education.
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