26,000 displaced due to dam spill; President promises aid

As of yesterday’s latest tally, at least 26,000 people had been forced to flee the lower Volta Basin as authorities continued to assess the level of destruction and mayhem brought about by the Akosombo and Kpong dams rupturing. dam

According to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Volta River Authority’s (VRA) spill has caused economic disruption, robbed communities of their means of subsistence, and left a large number of people in need of immediate assistance with food, water, and medical treatment.

The President of the Volta Region, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, visited the people yesterday, and it was clear that the area was under a state of national emergency.

In order to meet the affected people’s immediate needs, President Akufo-Addo stated that the government would continue to support them through NADMO. Meanwhile, the Office of the President, the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, and the relevant district assemblies would collaborate to determine the specifics of the affected people’s long-term support.

Along with Ministers of State, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, the Chief of Staff, and numerous dignitaries, the President arrived at the location via military helicopter. He expressed sympathy for the people and assured them that their situation would be resolved.

Somber ambiance

The first of the government’s high delegation toured the area for the first time since the accident, and the people, many of whom remained standing as they had for the previous five days, listened in a solemn environment.

The President added, “I am here to commiserate with you about the tragedy that occurred,” adding, “When it happened, I was in America for official business.”

“We have to think about the future in addition to what NADMO is doing,” he said, emphasizing his sympathy for the primarily farming communities whose members had lost their houses, farms, and other property as well as their means of subsistence.

He said that the government will use all available resources to ensure the well-being of those impacted.

“I took the oath of office representing every single person in Ghana as President.

I am the President of all the people of Ghana, regardless of their choice to vote for me or not, as soon as I take the oath of office. Added was President Akufo-Addo.

The President addressed the emergency support system and said, “It is because of the good works they have done that no single life has been lost in this disaster,” to thunderous applause from party supporters who had gathered at the St. Kizito Senior High School Park, where some of the displaced people were being housed.

The President pledged to keep an eye on things until things improved.

Chiefs

Togbe Kosi Nego VI, the Manklalo of Mepe, expressed gratitude to the President for the visit.

He restated that the community had petitioned the President with its concerns, and he expressed the hope that the government would temporarily move the impacted individuals to the Saglemi Housing site until a more permanent solution to the issue was found.

Togbe Nego also urged the President and his staff to expeditiously attend to their request in order to lessen the difficulties faced by the local populace.

Devastation

Parts of Ada in the Greater Accra Region, Battor, Sogakope, Mepe, and numerous island settlements in the Volta Region appear to have been impacted hardest among the communities destroyed by the flood.

With almost 10,000 displaced, the North Tongu area continues to be the most affected, according to NADMO, while Central Tongu, South Tongu, Ada, and Anlo each had 6,000 or fewer displaced.

This was revealed by Seji Saji Amedonu, the Deputy Director-General of NADMO, to the President during his inspection of the destruction at Mepe in the Volta Region.

Road restoration

The Sogakope bridge and other roads in the lower Volta Basin, where infrastructure and communities have been impacted by the spilling of the Akosombo and Kpong dams, will be restored with GH¢5 million from the Road Fund, according to the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

Part of the funding will be used to repair the bridge’s deteriorated expansion plugs as part of the Ghana Highway Authority’s (GHA) maintenance program, according to Minister of Roads Kwasi Amoako-Attah.

The minister stated that an audit was currently being conducted on the roadways in the impacted areas in the Volta, Eastern, and Bono regions. This was during an inspection tour to assess the integrity of the bridge as the water level of the Volta Lake rose dramatically following the spillage.

“Since the issues require urgent attention, I have informed the Coordinator of the Road Fund to make the money available, and I will inform the board accordingly so we can quickly tackle any defects readily while we await a proper assessment of critical roads in the affected areas when the water subsides,” Mr. Amoako-Attah said.

He described the Sogakope bridge as one of the critical infrastructures that had supported trade since its original construction in 1967 and subsequent rehabilitation in 1996 to accommodate the increasing volume of trade between Ghana and its neighbouring West African states.

The bridge, he said, was so far safe from the floods as the water level was within the safe zone of 0.3 meters.

“Our goal is to ensure that we tackle the bridge and other affected roads,” he said.

Mr Amoako-Attah commended the VRA for the assistance it had extended so far.

He said the VRA had allocated a patrol boat for the removal of water hyacinth which had also impeded the flow of water from the lake.

The removal, he said, was supposed to last between five and six days.

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