The Black Volta River, influenced by climatic conditions, water in 2023, has displaced six thousand one hundred and seventy [6,175] residents, including twelve thousand children, were affected by the flood.

Apart from that, some nine hundred and sixty-two households were marked spared, forcing the inhabitants to seek refuge in temporary shelters.

 But in order to help safeguard life and the livelihoods of his subjects, the chief of the Buipe traditional area, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor I, did make a promise during the 2023 flood to allocate land for the resettlement of the people of Bridge.

He has fulfilled his pledge to provide the space on high ground that contains two hundred plots for the victims to relocate

"We're working to provide access to water, roads, and electricity to support the relocation process," said Buipewura Jinapor.

According to the Paramount Chief, he and other stakeholders have appealed to the flood victims [residents] at Bridge to relocate to a higher height, but to no avail, hence the dedication of the new site for their migration.

"Well, we've been appealing to them to migrate, but you as human beings, once the flood comes, they feel the pains, and it subsides, you don't care again until God forbids and it occurs again, and you start running around," he explained.

Buipewura Jinapor also stated that the most important thing is that the land has been provided for their permanent migration.

"I did not just give the place alone, but I brought a caterpillar and grilled the whole place for them. It's near the road, and nearby their old settlement [at the bridge], and the whole place has been demarcated and planned. I can just sit here and allocate a plot or two to any of them [victims] who come seeking to migrate.  What's left is for you [flood victims] to, of course, as for the road, water and electricity, pay a little token for the development of the area to suit their comfort," Buipewura Jinapor emphasised.

Alhassan Imoro, a flood victim, expressed gratitude for the intervention. "We're grateful for the support. We're eager to start a new life and rebuild our lives."

Mr Fuseini Sumaila is a fisherfolk and a landlord. For him, it is good news at last, "Because for one to stay here and for the flood to come and destroy your things, or we've to always be packing our properties? No. It's better we migrate to the allocated land for our betterment," he added.

However, not everyone is ready to migrate. This is a 78-year-old landlord at Bridge, James Tetteh, who   prefers to stay and protect his ancestral home. "I've lived here for thirty 'six years and have seen it all, especially the 2010 flood, and don't see the need to move, leaving my house. What the authorities should be saying is to liaise well with Akosombo and Bui Dams to manage their water well. So, I'll stay here and face whatever comes my way." He insisted.

At the chief Jinapor palace, I was shown a site plan of the land, and when I later visited the two hundred plots allocated for the great migration, there were deposits of sand and buildings owned by those eager to migrate.

From these perspectives, residents and religious bodies, some of whom have already migrated beyond Buipe, are clear signs of a new dawn in the enclave.

On this, the Lead of Strategic Initiatives for Africa Governance, Dr Shelta Gatsey, noted that "this move shows that planned migration is a powerful path to safety and resilience,".

The migration effort is a testament to the power of community and stakeholder support in the face of climate-related disasters.

Scene of the bridge community at Buipe.

Impact of the 2023 flood at Buipe

This is a Joy News-CDN-University of Ghana C3SS project with funding from CLARE R41 Opportunities Fund.

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This article is written as part of a collaborative project between JoyNews, CDKN Ghana, and the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Ghana, with funding from the CLARE R41 Opportunities Fund.