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The Bagre ritual
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I live in a flood prone area of Accra. I have lost a couple of hundred prized books, including a hard-drive containing the first seven chapters of a book I had begun writing, household items and diamonds to flooding. I know how it feels to begin life from ground zero after acquiring possessions over thirty-five years. It is not something I wish for anyone to experience; natural disasters of any kind.
Just a couple of days ago, Burkina Faso experienced over seventy-five centimeters of rain in one day and so that country was compelled to open the spillways of the Bagre Dam on the Black Volta and the Kompienga Dam, releasing excess water into Ghana. When this happens, all regions in Northern Ghana are affected. Places already affected are in Lawra, Wa East and West, Daffiama, Nadowli, Jirapa, Savelugu, West Mamprusi, Mamprugu, North Gonja and Kumbungu Districts or Municipalities.
The people mostly affected are farmers, whose farms and dwellings are destroyed, making them poorer. This has become an annual ritual. As a nation, we all know that the northern sector of this country is our food basket; feeding us our yams, groundnuts, shea, millet, upland rice, onions, tomatoes and many more. My question, therefore, is: why do we witness this yearly ritual of seeing our compatriots up north go through this?
Already, reports from research groups forecast food shortage in Ghana in the coming days due to the floods in the north of the country. I must admit that the situation has been compounded by torrential rain in northern Ghana itself, but that is no excuse for our inability to find a lasting solution to this flooding menace.
Hurricane Ida just hit the southern coast of the United States, especially the State of Louisiana. It is an annual occurrence of nature, not man-made as in the case of the two dams in Burkina Faso. Americans are not happy about this hurricane menace, but there is nothing they can do about nature’s fury, so what they do is prepare adequately to mitigate its effect by putting warning systems in place for the citizens of the affected areas.
The music capital of the world, New Orleans is hard hit be this hurricane just as many other southern states of the Union. But they are prepared; they take measures to brave it all even if the disaster overwhelms them. The whole nation is alert to the annual occurrences. When the tornado (or twisters as they are called) season comes, America is prepared.
They have constructed storm drains so that as soon as the tropical squall passes, the water drains off into the drains and goes into the ocean. There is not a single storm drain Ghana can boast of, though someone tells me there is one under the Kaneshie Market in Accra. Ghana is never prepared for situations like these.
Bagre, on the other hand, is not a natural occurrence. Nature does not open the spillway; men do. This has been happening since the Bagre was constructed in 1999 and our leaders have not found a permanent solution to this problem. Who am I to suggest to a sovereign country like Burkina Faso to dredge and deepen the Black Volta so their dam can take in more water, though it can be done?
What Bagre unleashes on Ghana is nothing compared to disasters elsewhere, but because those affected are poor peasant farmers, the effect is grave. As I write, how many Ghanaians are aware of this yearly ritual of flooding from the two dams in the north of our country? Our journalists are busy with political stories to notice the humanitarian catastrophe that befalls the very people who produce food to feed us. It is only our national newspapers carry this, albeit on their back pages.
Our National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) alerts the people to the danger only after the Burkinabe authorities announce plans to open the spillways. Our leaders have since 1999 done little or nothing to solve this problem. We have pet projects that give no benefit whatsoever to our compatriots in need of permanent solutions to their collective problems. A news item I chanced upon stated that the Police have been deployed to some of the flooded areas in the north. Police?
In almost all jurisdictions I know, fire fighters are the first responders to any form of disaster. The Police only come in to maintain law and order. We have NADMO, but is that organization well equipped with the requisite manpower training and resources to do what must be done in such circumstances?The Police?
If Libya could build an artificial river in the desert, can we not borrow money to construct the largest water reservoir ever to harvest the spilled water from Bagre and Kompienga dams? This is achievable if our leaders avert their minds to it. Water from the reservoir could last a farming season when the water is used to irrigate the farmlands through construction of canals.
On the other hand, when water levels fall behind these two dams Ghana can sell the water in the reservoir to the Burkinabe to raise the level in their dams. I am told reverse engineering can make this possible. Can we imagine what benefits will accrue to this country when the north can produce food crops all year round?
This is not supposed to be a political or partisan issue. It is an issue of leadership. But when there is election, our politicians go to campaign in these very areas to be given the chance to either go to Parliament or the Flagstaff/Jubilee House. But as soon as they are given the votes, the people are left to their own fate to fend for themselves. I implore the opinion leaders and people of influence in those areas to make this annual ritual an election issue if the problems are not solved before then.
Until we hold our leaders by whatever will make them act on our behalf, they will always take us for dunces. While we take our leaders on, let us also be mindful of what wisdom we think we possess. When I was growing up in Koforidua, there was not a single case of flooding in the municipality until only recently. In our wisdom, we have tiled all our residential compounds to the extent that there is virtually no surface soil to soak in rain water. As a result, there is flooding at the least precipitation. So it is in Accra and all other urban environments.
But how long shall we live with the Bagre ritual?
akofa45@yahoo.
By Dr. Akofa K. Segbefia
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A disturbing practice in which some mothers and caregivers use skin-lightening creams, harsh soaps and even pills on children in an attempt to make their skin lighter has come under strong criticism from a public health nurse.
Mr Jonathan Kwame Quarshie, a Public Health Nurse at the Ho Teaching Hospital, has cautioned mothers and caregivers to desist from bleaching the skin of children, describing the practice as unnecessary and potentially harmful to their health.
He said it was worrying that some caregivers were exposing children to cosmetic products meant to alter their natural complexion, despite the delicate nature of children’s skin.
According to him, the situation becomes even more concerning when pills or tablets are given to children with the promise that the products would make their skin lighter “from within”.
“There is no justification for giving a baby or child an unprescribed substance for cosmetic purposes,” he cautioned.
Mr Quarshie stressed that “a baby is not a beauty project” and urged parents to appreciate and protect the natural complexion of their children rather than trying to change it to conform to perceived standards of beauty.
He explained that children’s skin was delicate and could be adversely affected by inappropriate cosmetic products, particularly those containing potentially harmful substances.
Some skin-lightening products may contain substances such as mercury, hydroquinone or potent corticosteroids, which could cause skin irritation, damage and other health complications depending on the substance and level of exposure, he said.
Of particular concern, he said, was mercury exposure, which could affect the nervous system and kidneys.
He therefore warned parents against treating children as “laboratories for beauty experiments” and urged them to consider the long-term health implications of exposing children to unnecessary chemicals and medicines.
Mr Quarshie said children did not need to have lighter skin to be considered beautiful, adding that what they needed was love, acceptance, proper nutrition, safe, age-appropriate skincare and appropriate medical care when necessary.
He advised parents whose children had skin conditions, unusual pigmentation, persistent rashes or other skin concerns to consult qualified health professionals rather than attempting to lighten or treat their skin with unprescribed products.
He also urged caregivers who had already used skin-lightening products on their children to stop further use and seek medical advice, particularly where a child developed irritation, swelling, skin thinning, changes in skin colour or other unusual symptoms.
He said it was worrying that children, particularly girls, were increasingly facing pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty from an early age.
He appealed to parents and families to create an environment in which children would grow up appreciating their natural appearance and understanding that their skin colour was not a problem that needed to be corrected.
“Every shade deserves protection. Every child deserves safe care,” he said, urging society to focus on protecting the health, dignity and wellbeing of children rather than changing their natural complexion.
He said children needed protection, not bleaching.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
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TRADERS of foodstuffs such as tomatoes, cassava, plantain and pepper are overwhelmed by the significant drop in prices across various markets and are urging customers to visit the markets to buy.
The development has come as a big relief to families who visit the markets for these essential ingredients used in daily food preparation.
When The Spectator visited markets around Accra Central, Agbogbloshie and Kingsway, among others, tomatoes had flooded every inch of space and were being sold at very affordable prices.
The situation was the same for other foodstuffs, including plantain, cassava and pepper.
The items were being sold at affordable prices as traders chased buyers.
Interacting with some traders, they said the abundance of foodstuffs had increased patronage at the various markets, with customers buying in large quantities.
With a budget of GH¢300, they claimed, one could buy enough foodstuffs to feed a family at home.
A trader, Esther Nyarko, told The Spectator that prices had reduced significantly and advised members of the public to buy in large quantities for storage.
“Cassava, for instance, can be cut into pieces and stored in a freezer. It can also be ground and processed into powder. In the same way, other foodstuffs can be stored in freezers so that when the season ends, people will have some to fall back on,” she said.
According to the traders, the current abundance of seasonal foodstuffs would not last forever, adding that scarcity could follow the harvest period.
Rose Nyarko, a trader at Agbogbloshie Market, said the abundance of tomatoes, pepper, onions and other vegetables was encouraging, adding that the lower prices were prompting customers to buy more.
Ms Anita Abban, a market woman at Kingsway, said farmers deserved commendation for making the foodstuffs available. She urged the government to support storage and transportation to prevent produce from going to waste.
A third trader, Maame Akua, told The Spectator that the development, coming after a period of vegetable scarcity, had brought joy to many people. She added that consumers were buying more than they needed in order to store some for future use.
A customer, Aunty Esi, said, “I came to buy foodstuffs for my family. I was surprised by the quantity available. There is no shortage, so I believe consumers should take advantage of the situation.”
Ms Rebecca Kumi said the variety of foodstuffs available was encouraging.
“The variety is good. You can find plantain, cassava, yam, tomatoes, pepper and other foodstuffs in large quantities. It makes shopping easier, and they are cheap. I wish it remains so for a long time,” she said.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
