During the 3rd Conference on Fisheries and Coastal Environment in Accra, the World Bank expressed its commitment to supporting the Ghanaian government in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Lower Volta region.
This crisis stemmed from the flooding caused by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam by the Volta River Authority, which resulted in the displacement of thousands of residents along with the loss of their homes, farms, and businesses.
Michelle Keane, the Operations Manager of the World Bank in Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, conveyed the World Bank’s sympathy for the affected victims and affirmed the organization’s readiness to assist the government’s efforts in addressing this situation.
“We can’t speak about flooding today without conveying the World Bank’s sincere empathy and concern for the ten thousand people who have been impacted by the recent floods along the Volta River,” she said. “The World Bank would want to express its readiness to support the government in its response to this crisis.”
Keane also expressed optimism that the Ghanaian government would make use of a $150 million loan facility to safeguard coastal communities from flooding by implementing a sustainable, long-term strategy.
“In the longer term, developing a sustainability and risk management strategy for the Volta River and Volta Delta, among other areas, will be crucial to determining where it is safe for people to live and how their livelihoods can be sustained and grow along the Volta River supported by a healthy ecosystem,” she said.
“We hope that the government and its partners will take full advantage of the $150 million approved by the World Bank for Ghana under the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme (WACA). The financing is expected to become available very soon after parliamentary approval,” Keane added.