Former President and National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, has urged the Volta River Authority (VRA) to step up efforts to aid citizens in communities along the Volta River, affected by the spillage from the Akosombo Dam. According to him, he is disappointed that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is unable to assist the affected communities due to a lack of relief supplies.
The former president made this known last Friday when he visited parts of Sogakope and Sokpoe, to assess the impact of the spillage and to meet with affected communities and facilities.
Mr Mahama urged the VRA to quickly deliver the promised relief efforts to the affected communities after his visit and interaction with residents, management and staff of the Comboni Hospital.
He said, “This is about people’s lives. I will thank the VRA and appeal to them to expedite their efforts because the people are in need. We must help them to cope with the situation.”
The flooding, due to the spillage, has forced many communities in the North, South and Central Tongu districts of the Volta Region to evacuate, leaving them with no choice, but to try and save what’s left of their belongings.
The situation was dire, with the Comboni Hospital staff having to evacuate their quarters and seek shelter under a pavilion. Patients have also been discharged, with only ten in critical conditions remaining. If the water levels do not recede soon, they too, may have to be discharged.
He also noted that the spillage was caused by large inflows from above the dam, due to heavy rains in the northern parts of the country, but advised the VRA to consider desilting the river.
“If you don’t spill, it is possible that the dam can give way, and that will be more catastrophic, especially down the southern Volta. But we must dredge so that the extra volumes of water can flow faster. For example, under the Volta Bridge is silted. If it is de-silted, the water will flow away faster.”
To emphasise the urgency of relief efforts and the impact of the situation on people, Mr Mahama spoke about the possibility of the hospital asking families to collect the 300 dead bodies from the mortuary and find other places to accommodate them.
“We need the government to take this seriously,” a community leader told Mr Mahama. “The lives of our people are at stake, and their well-being should be a top priority.”
In another development, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has disclosed that an inter-ministerial team, headed by the Chief of Staff has been set-up to coordinate government’s response to the unfortunate flooding of some communities, following spillage from the Volta dam.
The committee is composed as follows: Chief of Staff— Chairperson, Minister for National Security, Minister for the Interior, Minister for Defence, Minister for Energy, Minister for Finance, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Works and Housing, Minister for Roads and Highways, Minister for Environment, Minister for Sanitation, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Minister for Information.
