Bagre dam spillage kills 9

Nine lives have been lost in the three Northern, Upper Regions of Ghana within the last two weeks as a result of flooding caused by either the opening of the Bagre dam in Burkina Faso or the continuous heavy rains in the area.

The first death to be reported was that of a 12-year-old-girl, who drowned at Nayagnia as she was crossing a river. This was followed by two reported cases in the Upper West Region.

A total of four deaths have also been recorded in the Northern Region; two occurred in the Jagsi Community in the West Mamprusi District whiles two occurred in the West Gonja District.

The latest report is that two people have died at Sheaga-Datoko in the Talensi-Nabdam District in the Upper East Region.

The deceased, Kolbil Piyiyelp, 31 and Kosaag Namzoya, 30 years, drowned when their canoe capsized on a tributary of the White Volta as they were crossing back home from their farm.

They were with two others who were saved from drowning by some community members who heard their cry as they struggled to stay afloat.

An assembly man for the area, Abdulai Tia, who narrated the incident to a section of the media, said on Saturday, September 4, 2010, the four friends, who farm as a group, set off to their farm across a tributary of the White Volta which passes through the Sheaga-Datoko community.

According to him, though the water level had not yet risen, they were advised by some friends and family members not to cross the river because the clouds had gathered, showing signs of a possible rainfall, and also the spilled water from the Bagre Dam into the Black and White Voltas could reach the community at any time, as advised by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the Information Service Van.

The four able men left the community in a canoe and successfully arrived at their farm. According to the two survivors, on their way back, they realized that the heavy down pour, coupled with the spilled water from the Bagre Dam, had caused the water level of the White Volta tributary to rise.

The four friends however took a huge risk and decided to go home despite the high water level but unfortunately for them, the current at the middle of the river was so strong and their canoe, because of their weight, could not match the water current.

The canoe therefore capsized, throwing them into the river. The two survivors were fortunate to be saved by some community members but the other two unfortunately drowned.