President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo embarked on a poignant tour of the Volta Region, where communities have been grappling with the consequences of the Akosombo Dam spillage.
In his heartfelt interactions with the chiefs and residents of Mepe and neighboring towns in the North, South, and Central Tongu areas, the President assured them that the government would employ resource at its disposal to mitigate their hardships.
Reflecting on his 2017 inauguration as Ghana’s President, Akufo-Addo emphasized that he took the solemn oath to serve as President for all Ghanaians, regardless of their voting preferences.
This, he underlined, includes those residing in regions traditionally aligned with the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“When I took the oath of office as president, I took the oath of office as president for every single individual in Ghana, of all the people in Ghana, all districts whether they voted for me or not. Once I have taken the oath of office, I am the president of all the people,” he stated.
“If it is the question of counting who votes for me and who doesn’t vote for me I shouldn’t be here because you don’t vote for me but that is not my concern,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo further expressed his concern for the difficulties faced by Ghanaians in the affected areas, making it clear that the focus was on the well-being of the people, not political affiliations.
He commended the efforts of the Volta River Authority (VRA) in their preparations for such crises over the years, including simulations and awareness campaigns. This readiness, coupled with divine providence, had prevented any loss of life in this crisis.
The President firmly stated that, “Whatever it is within the powers of the government that can be done to alleviate this situation, it is going to be done.”
Prior to the President’s visit, Mr. Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, CEO of the VRA, had explained the ongoing spillage due to higher-than-expected inflows into the lake.
He highlighted the necessity of water release for the dam’s safety.
The situation, he noted, was beyond the usual seasonal variations. While he anticipated a decrease in the coming days, he acknowledged the need for emergency measures to safeguard the affected population.
