Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Seji Saji Amedonu, has announced that water levels in communities affected by the Akosombo Dam spillage are gradually declining.
He estimates that it will take approximately one week for the water to fully recede, given the current rate of decline.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Amedonu disclosed that the water started receding around two days ago, adding that there has been a notable reduction in water levels, particularly in the affected communities.
“What it is telling us is that we are beginning to see the start of the end of this. It might take some time, but at the rate at which it is receding, if it continues this way, I am very confident that in about a week or so, we will not have that level of water in the communities again,” he said.
He also warned that even when the water levels have completely receded, extensive work would be needed before residents can move back into their buildings. “The level of contamination of that water is quite high,” Amedonu stated.
Displaced residents, currently housed in schools and makeshift structures, may face a prolonged period of uncertainty as they await a decision from the government about their future. The government has yet to confirm whether these residents will be permanently relocated or offered more durable housing solutions.
Over the past fortnight, individuals affected by the flooding—resulting from the water spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams—have been seeking governmental and philanthropic assistance for resettlement. Proposals have also been made by the Minority in Parliament to relocate the victims to the stalled Saglemi housing project.
Addressing the issue on Tuesday, 24 October 2023, Deputy Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the flood victims. Health officials from the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health have already been dispatched to the affected areas. “We have the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service ensuring that we don’t have any disease outbreaks and provide primary care to the people,” she noted.
She further added that testing is underway to assess the habitability of the affected areas. “It is that information that will inform some decisions by the committee,” she said.
As part of the ongoing rescue mission, which commenced on 13 October 2023, a total of 12,000 people have been rescued from Mepe and various other areas in the Volta Region. The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) reported that as of Sunday, 22 October, the flooding in Mepe, one of the communities severely affected by the dam spillage, has been significantly controlled.
While official efforts continue, generous individuals and organisations are also contributing relief items to those impacted by this natural disaster.