Last week, the founder of the Movement for Change, Alan Kyerematen and the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, embarked on a joint visit to offer support and sympathy to the victims of communities impacted by the Akosombo Dam spillage.
The ongoing spillage has left numerous residents without homes, and thousands of houses have been submerged in floodwaters since the incident occurred.
During their visit to Mepe, one of the severely affected communities, Mr Kyerematen emphasized the gravity of the situation, describing it as a national disaster emergency. He called upon both the public and private sectors to extend their support and assistance to those affected by the crisis.
Mr Kyerematen expressed deep empathy for the hardships faced by the people due to the spillage, which forced many to leave their homes. Thankfully, there have been no casualties reported despite the widespread disruption caused by this disaster.
He said “this was a natural disaster and there is little we can do at this moment. I pray that this becomes a thing of the past and our people will be safe again.”
Mr. Kyerematen pledged his commitment to providing support to the flood victims in the coming month and encouraged residents to remain composed, expressing hope that the District Assembly would exert substantial efforts to safeguard lives.
The affected residents are still in dire need of government assistance as many of them have sought refuge in classrooms for safety.
Meanwhile, during his visit to Mepe on Friday, Mr Mahama emphasized the urgent need for desilting the Lower Volta Basin, particularly focusing on the estuary at Ada. He observed that the situation had exacerbated the flooding issue, exacerbated by the release of excess water from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams by the Volta River Authority (VRA).
Former President Mahama urged the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to swiftly take action in providing essential relief items and implementing security measures to safeguard the lives and property of the affected communities.
He expressed regret that NADMO was hampered by a shortage of resources, hindering its ability to promptly and adequately address the citizens’ needs. He attributed this shortfall to the government’s failure to adequately support the organization.