We’ve been neglected after Bagre dam destruction – Talensi farmers lament

Some farmers who were affected by the spillage of the Bagre Dam coupled with torrential rains in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region are angry that government has not provided them with relief items.

The farmers, who lost their crops to the floods say it is becoming difficult to survive with their families as government has made no effort to support them several weeks after the floods.

The spillage of the Bagre dam from Burkina Faso coupled with torrential rains in the Upper East Region submerged  thousands of hectares  of farms destroying crops such as maize, rice, millet among others.

In the Talensi District 2,952 farmers were affected. Farmers in communities such Nuugu, Yinduri, Pwalugu amongst others who farm along the white Volta in the Talensi district had their crops completely destroyed.

Narrating their ordeal to Citi News, some affected farmers in Pwalugu said they feel neglected by government after the floods accusing the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) refusing to come to their aid.

An affected farmer, Akaduaba Atia said, we are really suffering after the floods destroyed our crops, it is not easy taking care of the family because we have lost all our crops. We also heard that, government has given relief items to be given to us but we have not been given.

…And now a bowl of maize is GHC5.00 and grinding is GHC3.00 so one has to sell his goats to be able to buy foodstuff to survive. We want government to come to our aid.

Another farmer, Agoami Atia said, “I cultivated two acres of groundnuts and maize but the floods swept all my crops. It’s really difficult to survive after the floods, so I have resorted to dry season farming.”

“We heard government has released relief items for us but unfortunately we haven’t received anything. NADMO and MOFA of our district came around when the floods destroyed our crops and we also heard that government has released relief items for us but we have not received anything”another farmer stated.

But Talensi District Coordinator of NADMO, Mahama Ken Kazar said his outfit will give the affected farmers relief items after a full assessment report on the damage caused by the floods.

He reiterated that, the report will enable them to deliver the right relief items to the affected farmers.

“For now, the affected farmers have not received any relief items until our report is presented to the district assembly by the end of this month. However I cannot tell when the farmers will receive relief items after the report has been submitted”.

It was his hope that, the affected farmers will depend on crops that were harvested on high lands until they finally receive relief items.

By: Frederick Awuni/citinewsroom.com/Ghana

Source: citifmonline.com