Volta NDC calls on VRA to Stop Akosombo Dam spillage to help save lives

The Volta Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)has placed a pressing call on the Volta River Authority (VRA) as a matter of urgency halt the increasingly spillage of the Akosombo Dam until pragmatic safety measures are put in place to curb the predicament before it blows alot of dimension in the lives of the indegens in the community.

This passionate appeal comes in response to the recent spillage of the Akosombo Dam, which has resulted in a 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 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 significantly vital them,adding that the government ought do everything possible to save 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 in 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 apealed to the central government to give a helping hand to these affected communities.

The statement detailed that, the spillage has resulted in power outages in the affected areas, which is slow pacing the 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 using boats and canoes, which 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 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

By Lawrence Odoom