The Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibriil, has on behalf of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, ordered the Ghana education service through the DCE to quickly absorb all affected school children due to the to the Buipe floods which has hit over four Communities within the Buipe township. The minister gave the order when he visited the affected flood areas at Buipe, in the central Gonja district of the Savannah region to sympathized with over 1,200 flood victims and assured them of government’s plan to cushion them.
Saeed Muhazu said he has discussed with the DCE for central Gonja district and the district education directorate to make sure these affected students are sent to other schools to absorb them whilst the region, together with the district keep on finding lasting solution to the problem. Although the environment may look new to these students, it’s better than allowing them sit at home. Some public and private schools buildings have been submerged as a result of the flooding rendering over 100 school children school-less.
The worried Saeed Muhazu also, called on corporate Ghana, NGOs, CSOs and other stakeholders to assist the victims because “we are in this sorrow together, once your people don’t sleep, we can’t equally go to bed”.
He disclosed that government was in discussion with the right authorities to overcome the unfortunate situation, which occurs every ten years. But, already, a team is being formed to start working out ways to achieve that result and get the problem fix for the people of the area.
The Regional Minister also expressed gratitude to the Chief of Buipe traditional area, Buipewura Jinapor II, his elders and the people for being there for the victims during the disaster.
The over 1,200 people affected comprises of peasant farmers, fisher folks and traders. They were chased out of their homes and business centres due to the spillage from the Bui Dam.
Public and private properties such as electricity poles and cables including school buildings were submerged by the flood.
The minister, who together with the DCE for central Gonja district, regional NADMO director and staff visited some of the hard hit areas with a canoe for fair assessment of the impact, added that until this disaster, government had started working out sustainable solutions for all flood-prone areas in the country, saying that such measures, if well implemented, will minimize the impact on lives and properties.
I have also tasked the DCE and NaDMO officials to fast-track the statistics on the ground so we can know how many victims and other casualties that have been recorded during the incident to enable us provide you with relief items because we are in this together, he added.
