The Volta Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a pressing call to the Volta River Authority (VRA) to immediately cease the spillage of the Akosombo Dam until comprehensive safety measures are in place to prevent further devastation.
This call comes in response to the recent spillage of the Akosombo Dam, which has resulted in unprecedented flooding in over one hundred communities across five constituencies in the Volta Region.
This unfortunate event has left many residents of North Tongu, Central Tongu, South Tongu, Keta, and Anlo Constituencies homeless and in dire need of assistance.
In an official statement signed by the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC, Hon. James Gunu, the party in the region expressed its deep concern about the implications of this uncontrolled spillage on the affected communities.
According to them, the devastation to lives, property, health, and livelihoods is of paramount importance and everything humanly possible must be done to safeguard the aforementioned.
The statement criticizes the insufficient engagement of stakeholders and communities along the river bank prior to the spillage this year.
This lack of communication has left residents in shock as they face the floods in their homes, the statement stressed.
Furthermore, Volta NDC expressed its disappointment in the central government’s response, noting the extremely low or even zero interest it has taken in providing immediate aid to the affected residents.
As the damages caused extend beyond individual support, the party urgently called on the central government to assist these affected communities.
According to the statement, the spillage has resulted in power outages in the affected areas, impacting essential services such as the Adidome Hospital, where individuals in need of medical care face severe danger.
The statement added that, access to these communities has been hindered as roads are cut off, leaving commuters stranded, and some have resorted to using boats and canoes, further endangering their lives.
The affected communities, as identified by the Volta NDC, include those in the Central Tongu, South Tongu, North Tongu, Keta, and Anlo Districts.
A comprehensive list of affected communities has been provided to facilitate governmental intervention and support.
The party also extends its deepest solidarity to the affected individuals in these communities and calls for immediate intervention to mitigate any further harm to lives and properties.
Below is their official press 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 worry, the devastations 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 on health, livelihoods, and sustenance of the lives of the affected people.
Minute after minute, the devastations are 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 engagements 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 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 with 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 love
- Kwamla love
- Abortia Sapa
- Torgorme
(d). Communities in the Keta District including the Keta township
- 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 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
