The Volta Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Volta River Authority (VRA) to urgently halt the increasing spillage of the Akosombo Dam until pragmatic safety measures are put in place to curb the predicament before it blows a lot of dimension into the lives of the indigenous people in the community.
The appeal comes in response to the recent spillage of the Akosombo Dam, which has resulted in very deadly flooding that has hit over one hundred communities across five constituencies in the Volta Region.
This unfortunate incident has left numerous residents of North Tongu, Central Tongu, South Tongu, Keta, and Anlo Constituencies homeless and in urgent need of help before the unfortunate thing happens.
In a press release signed by the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC, Hon. James Gunu, the umbrella fraternity in the region expressed worry about the implications of such an unexpected spillage on the affected communities.
According to the party,the rate at which the spillage is likely to ruin lives, property, health, and livelihoods is of significant importance to them,adding that the government ought to do everything possible to prevent the situation from escalating.
The NDC criticizes the zero engagement of stakeholders and communities along the river bank prior to the spillage this very year.
The non-official communication has left the community folks in shock as they face the floods in their homes, the statement added.
In furtherance, Volta NDC has expressed their dissatisfaction with the central government’s response, stressing the zero interest it has taken in providing immediate assistance to the affected residents and the community.
As the destruction caused goes beyond individual support, the NDC urgently appealed to the central government to lend a helping hand to these affected communities.
The statement detailed that the spillage has resulted in power outages in the affected areas, which is slowing the pace of essential services such as the Adidome Hospital, where individuals in need of medical care face serious danger.
It added that access to these communities has been a cankerworm as roads are cut off, leaving commuters stranded, and some have opted to use boats and canoes, further endangering their lives.
The affected communities, which were tabled by the Volta NDC, include those in the Central Tongu, South Tongu, North Tongu, Keta, and Anlo Districts.
The Volta NDC also extends its deepest solidarity to the affected individuals in these aforementioned communities and calls for immediate intervention to curb any further destruction to lives and properties.
Below is the full statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/10/2023 VOLTA REGION NDC ON THE SPILLAGE OF AKOSOMBO DAM BY VRA
The Volta Regional National Democratic Congress has noted with deep concern the devastation to lives and properties in a total of one hundred and one communities in five constituencies along the Volta Lake due to the uncontrolled spillage of the dam by the Volta River Authority (VRA). As a result, we are concerned about the implications for the health, livelihoods, and sustenance of the lives of the affected people. Minute after minute, the devastation is expanding as the spillage continues, and we find it necessary as a party in the region to call the attention of the authority and government to intervene.
As a party, we call on the Volta River Authority to, as a matter of urgency, stop the spillage with immediate effect until adequate safety measures are put in place before any further spillage. We are not oblivious to the need to safeguard the dam due to excess water. But what we have seen this year before the spillage is unacceptable. In the past, VRA took the opportunity to engage in proper stakeholder engagement and sensitization of communities along the banks of the Volta Lake. This year, little of this has been done, leaving the people in shock when they began experiencing floods in their homes. While this is ongoing, we have noted the low interest of the central government in coming to the aid of the affected residents. We want to use this opportunity to call on the central government to, as a matter of urgency, help meet the emergency needs of the affected communities, as the damages caused are beyond individual support. The spillage has resulted in power cuts in the affected communities. The Adidome Hospital has been affected by the power cut, leaving individuals in need of medical care in severe danger. The resultant floods have affected access to communities as roads have been cut off, leaving commuters stranded and others resorting to the use of boats and canoes, which further endangers their lives. Our checks have shown that the following communities have been affected by the spillage: (a). Communities in the Central Tongu District: Tsetsekpo Siamekome Awadiwoekome Ameamekor Ganakpoetorkor Zortikpo Dugame Old Bakpa Bekpo Kebegodo Afokope Agbotekakope Kebenu Atsemkope Akpokope Dokpo Dove Ahokope Atitekpo Aklamador Gbadakope Dentenu Dorgbadzikope Tuvorkope Akorkorlipe Vugodzi Taykope Ahokope Gbolofor Akuwakpoe (b) Communities in the South Tongu District Vume Tademe Tefle Sokpoe Sokpoe-Tordome Anaosukope Fievie Fievie-Adidokpoe Xorlortsukope Adoafianyakope Sogakope Gbenorkope Detsawome Agordomi Yorve Agorta Kpontey Nutekpor Dalive Tuanikope Amedormekope Gamenu-Adidokpoe (c). Communities in the North Tongu District Gblornu Klamadaboe Vome Sikor Dzimakorpe Memordzi Aveyime Battor Mepe Tornu Dorfor Asimekope Dorfor Kome Dorfor, London Afaode Korsive Sayikorfe Husikorfe Titikorfe Kodome Tege, Kwamla, and Abortia Sapa Torgorme (d). Communities in the Keta District, including the Keta township of Kedzikope Abutiakope, Vui Seva Atiavi Mamime Hagodzi Agorvinu Sonugbe Wenyagor (e) Communities affected in Anlo Sakome Agorbledokui Bleamezado Trekume Dosukorpe Nyikutor Suipe Azanu Nyakpatsi Benadzi Penyito Kpordui Klomikpota Fiaxor Atito Genui We provide this list, even though it is not exhaustive considering the expanded coverage of the flood, to make it easily identifiable for governmental intervention in this regard. Any further delay in extending help to victims of these communities would spell danger for their very survival in this time of difficulty. As a party, we want to express our deepest solidarity with the affected persons in these communities, while we hope for immediate intervention to curb any further devastation of lives and properties. Signed: James GuNU Regional Secretary, Volta NDC
By Lawrence Odoom
